to continue in force the regulations they have made for admission to the Museum.
While thanking your Lordship for directing the payment of the $1800 which had since June 1879 been withheld by His Excellency the Governor they note that your Lordship objects to any distinction being made as to class or race in the rules of admission but they would not object to admission alternately free and at a charge as in the South Kensington Museum. The Committee do not fail to appreciate the evident good wishes of your Lordship in suggesting what might appear to be a satisfactory mode of settling the dispute that has arisen but they feel constrained to point out that however well such a rule might work in England it would in their opinion regards Chinese visitors utterly impracticable in this Colony as the result would be that the Museum would be empty for three days out of every six days in the week while upon the remaining three days it would be overcrowded.
Although the funds to build the City Hall were chiefly obtained from shareholders and it was understood at the time that the shareholders would be entitled to any profit that might be made from the letting of the Theatre, Ball Room etc., as a matter of fact the shareholders have not received any money by way of interest on their capital but there does not appear to be any reasonable hope of their ever doing so or of their getting back any portion of their capital. Great difficulties as to ways and means have always been experienced in the institution since it was first opened and the Committee do not feel justified in abandoning Government Grant without once more placing clearly before your Lordship the reasons that have actuated them in making and continuing the regulations that have been objected to.
The Committee feel that it is somewhat difficult to explain fully to your Lordship...
Page 450
Page 451