Report of Society's Meetings. 425 
meetings this year, but those contributed were of a 
practical tendency, especially Mr. Skekel's paper supple- 
mented by his working model of a cane mill on new 
principles, which created a healthy discussion. 
The amount of money now being spent annually on 
periodicals and newspapers is at least worthy of notice, 
and this expenditure is on the increase. 
In the statement of receipts and expenditure sub- 
mitted by the Treasurer at the beginning of this year for 
the year 1887, the entries run : — 
Cost of Magazines, Newspapers, &c. ... $1,34790 
„ New Books added to Library ... ... ... 674 04 
This discloses a state of things which in my opinion is 
not very satisfactory, and I daresay some will disagree 
with me when I say it is a grave mistake which should 
be rectified; but at any rate, if it be the opinion of the 
majority that no change should be made, it is better they 
should decide so with their eyes open than drift blindly 
into it. Double the amount is spent on ephemeral litera- 
ture to that which is spent on standard works, as appears 
by the figures ; but it is not to be supposed that the 
whole or half of the $674 is laid out on solid books such 
as the library ought to possess ; the greater part goes to 
purchase novels, good, bad, and indifferent, and books of 
a light description. 
If these same lines are to be continued, the Society 
will lose ground on its serious and educational side to 
the detriment of every one, but especially to the detri- 
ment of its more youthful members and of those who 
depend upon its shelves for their only literary pabulum. 
I turn now with much pleasure to the Museum, which 
is a mine of information to a Natural History student 
