Agricultural and Commercial Society. 113 
The Book Committee held its regular meetings during 
the year ; indeed I may say it was the only Committee 
that did any practical work. A new departure was 
made in adding to the Committee a few of the Associate 
Members of the Society, by way of introducing some 
new blood into the administration, the Rules providing 
for the admission of associates on the Book Committee 
only. The Librarian still complains of damage and 
distiguremenc of books by pencil scribbling, andtearing- 
ofi' of leaf corners, but is pleased to notice that these 
offences against good taste are less frequent than 
formerly. Occasionally pictures and patterns are found 
cut out of fashion papers : — surely not by ladies ? 
Periodical ]^^agazines are much taken out and read, and 
very often ill-used. 
Turning to the personnel of the Society I tind that 
our membership has somewhat increased during the 
year, from 416 to 420 of all classes, notwithstanding a 
heavy death roll of many old and well-known members 
of the community, whose names were household words 
amongst us : the list embracing Geo. S. Jenman, F.L.S., 
Government Botanist, Geo. H. Hawtayne, C.M.G., a 
past President of the Society, Hon. Jas. Thomson and 
C. K. Jardine, Pressmen of renown, F. A. Winter, of the 
P.W.D., an all-round worker, Mr. Blair, Inspector of 
Schools, ixn active member of the Book Committee, 
A. B. Barnard, a pioneer of our Gold Industry, and 
Geo. B. Pairaudeau, a genial Water Street man. We 
have also to deplore the loss of Capt. Alex. Duncan, for 
many years an active Director of the Society, who has 
permanently retired from the Colonial service, and who, 
I am sure, carries with liim our best wishes for his future 
