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understanding as the correspondence is before you. It gives in detail all the particulars of the questions between the Government and the Committee, and, furthermore, the matter has been referred to the Secretary of State, and I think until the reply of the Secretary of State is received it would not be becoming to say more on the subject. The accounts are on the whole fairly satisfactory, considering that the amount due by the Government, $1,200 up to the 30th June last, has not yet been paid and that we have a balance of something like $900 in hand. The receipts from the theatre have been better than in past years, and generally I think the institution may be considered as fairly self-supporting now; with the aid of the $1,200, the annual subscription by the Government, we should be able to get on pretty well, and, I think, add very much to the Museum and to the general usefulness of the building. I beg to propose the adoption of the report.
Mr. Coxon seconded.
The Chairman asked if any gentleman had anything to say on the subject of the report before it was put to the meeting.
No remarks being offered, the motion was put and carried unanimously.
The Chairman said the Secretary had just called his attention to the fact that the minutes of the last meeting required to be confirmed.
The Secretary then read the minutes, and some little amusement was caused by the record they contained of the Hon. Mr. Ryrie's opinion that the Government might fairly be asked to contribute much more liberally to the support of the institution.
The minutes were confirmed.
The Chairman-The members of the Committee for 1880, unless there is any change proposed, will be, Messrs. Keswick, Ryrie, Snowden, Sassoon, Forbes, Ruttunjee, and Hoppius, but if any names are proposed in addition it is customary at this meeting to appoint them. It has been the custom, I find, on looking back at the old minutes, simply to mention the Committee in this form; they have not been proposed and elected. In 1869, when the first Committee was appointed, it was appointed, as it were, a standing Committee with power to add to its number, and usually at this annual meeting the names have been given and any new name proposed has been added. If now there be any new name proposed we shall be glad to hear of it.
Mr. Nelson-May I ask the terms of the constitution of the institution? Is it not possible to elect your Committee annually? Was the Committee elected in 1869 positively a permanent Committee?
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The Chairman said he thought it had been more a custom that had prevailed. There was no definite constitution. It had simply been the custom pursued from year to year, beginning in 1869. He read an extract from the minutes recording the election of the Committee at a meeting of shareholders in 1869, from which it appeared that the Committee was simply appointed with power to add to their number, nothing being said as to its being a permanent Committee nor as to the whole or any portion retiring annually. It might be well now, he added, in view of the greater importance of the City Hall, to have a proper constitution framed.
Mr. Nelson-I certainly think, expressing my individual opinion, that the election of the Committee should be annual.
The Chairman--Sometimes it has been so very much like the Committee electing themselves. At the last meeting, if I am not mistaken, there was only one gentleman present besides the Committee.
Mr. Nelson-Quite so. Could you also inform me from that book whether the trustees were appointed ex-officio members of the Committee?
The Chairman-It is not so. There is nothing said about the trustees in it. The Committee is independent of the trustees.
Mr. Nelson-The reason why I regard it as desirable to make such a change as to elect the Committee annually is this. In this correspondence which has taken place between the Committee and the Government-the Governor-the views held are very diametrically opposed, and the views expressed by the Governor are, as it seems to me, put upon the shoulders of one member of our Committee. I trust I will not in any way be misunderstood in alluding to any individual. It is forced upon me simply by the fact that there is only one of the trustees on the Committee, and that is the member to whom I allude. If we, as subscribers and shareholders in this institution, return upon our Committee for the coming year a gentleman who is in the position of representing the very strong views which his Excellency the Governor holds, we shall thereby at any rate, it seems to me, be giving a seeming sanction to those views. Therefore my opinion is that it would be better that the members and subscribers present should have an opportunity of electing a Committee independently, and by their election at any rate
(33 Dec.)
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understanding as the coroespondence is before you. It gives in detail all the particulars of the questions between the Government and the Committee, and, furthermore, the matter has been referred to the Secretary of State, and I think until the reply of the Secretary of State is received it would not be becoming to say more on the subject. The accounts are on the whole fairly satisfactory, considering that the amount due by the Government, $1,200 up to the 30th June last, has not yet been paid and that we have a balance of something like $900 in hand. The receipts from the theatre have been better than in past years, and generally I think the institution may be considered as fairly self-supporting now; with the aid of the $1,200, the annual subscrip- tion by the Government, we should be able to get on pretty well, and, I think, add very much to the Museum and to the general usefulness of the building. I beg to propose the adoption of the report.
Mr. Coxon seconded.
The Chairman asked if any gentleman had anything to say on the zubject of the report before it was put to the meeting.
No remarks being offered, the motion was put and carried unani- mously.
The Chairman said the Secretary had just called his attention to the fact that the minutes of the last meeting required to be confirmed.
The Secretary then read the minutes, and some little amusement was caused by the record they contained of the Hon. Mr. Ityrie's opinion that the Government might fairly he asked to contribute much more liberally to the support of the institution.
The minutes were confirmed.
The Chairman-The members of the Committee for 1880, unless there is any change proposed, will be, Messrs. Keswick, Ryrie, Swowden, Sassoon, Forbes, Ruttunjee, and Hoppius, but if any names are proposed in addition it is customary at this meeting to appoint them It has been the custom, I find, on looking back at the old minutes, simply to mention the Committee in this form; they have not been pro- posed and elected. In 1869, when the first Committee was appointed, it was appointed, as it were, a standing Committee with power to add to its number, and usually at this annual meeting the names have been given and any new name proposed has been added. If now there be any new name proposed we shall be glad to hear of it.
Mr. Nelson-May I ask the terms of the constitution of the insti-
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tution? Is it not possible to elect your Committee annually? Was the Committee elected in 1869 positively a permanent Committee?
The Chairman said he thought it had been more a custom that bad prevailed. There was no definite constitution. It had simply been the custom pursued from year to year, beginning in 1869, He read an extract from the minutes recording the election of the Committee at a meeting of shareholders in 1869, from which it appeared that the Com- mittee was simply appointed with power to add to their number, no- thing being said as to its being a permanent Committee nor as to the whole or any portion retiring annually. It might be well now, he added, in view of the greater importance of the City Hall, to have a proper constitution framed.
Mr. Nelson-I certainly think, expressing my individual opinion, that the election of the Committee should be annual,
The Chairman--Sometimes it has been so very much like the Com- mittee electing themselves. At the lust meeting, if I am not mistaken, there was only one gentleman present besides the Committee.
Mr. Nelson-Quite so. Could you also inform me from that book whether the trustees were appointed ex-officio members of the Com- mittse?
The Chairman-It is not so. There is nothing said about the trustees in it. The Committee is independent of the trustees.
Mr.Nelson-The reason why I regard it as desirable to make such a change as to elect the committee annually is this. In this cor- respondence which has taken place between the committee and the Government-the Governor-the views held are very diametrically opposed, and the views expressed by the Governor are, as it seems to me, put upon the shoulders of one member of our Committee. I trust I will not in any way he misunderstood in alluding to any individual. It is forced upon me simply by the fact that there is only one of the trastecs on the Committee, and that is the member to whom I allude. If we, as subscribers and shareholders in this institution, return upon our Committee for the cording year a gentleman who is in the position of representing the very strong views which his Excellency the Governor holds, wo shall thereby at any rate, it seems to me, be giving a seeming sanetion to those views. Therefore my opinion is that it would be bet- ter that the members and subscribers present should have an opportunity of electing a committee independently, and by their election at any rate
33
Dec.
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