146
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
Smoothy's opinion that these should be removed as soon as possible, as they are
not Essex specimens, and being only on loan, the large cases present almost
unsurmountable difficulties in the proper arrangement of the Museum.1
Mr. Mothersole is now only employed one day per week, and consequently the work
is greatly delayed, but I claim that our exertions are already bearing fruit, and
that the collections are increasing, if but slowly. The task of cleaning the
specimens, reconstructing the cases, etc., and repairing the neglect of many years
has been exceedingly heavy, and I must confess that I get absolutely no help
from those who at the commencement promised aid. Several collections, such as
the type collections of plants, the educational series of animals, and the mollusca,
are still not arranged, although at least eighteen months ago we prepared all the
cases and procured the boxes, slabs, bottles, etc., required for the setting-up of
such collections. I can only appeal to those gentlemen to bestir themselves. I
work as much at the Museum as possible, but more time is necessary. It is most
desirable that the Museum should be opened as soon as possible, but much
remains to be done, and a very considerable capital expenditure is still imperative.
Also if the Museum is to be opened, some arrangements as to caretaking, clean-
ing, lighting, warming, etc., would be absolutely essential, and some of the
collections (particularly the geological series) would need skilful aid in determining
the species and arranging the proposed educational and other series.
The Council now propose very carefully to consider the subject of the Museum,
and nothing further can be usefully said until some decision is come to on the
question of maintenance. I simply present this Interim Report that the mem-
bers may see that although the work is necessarily slow, we are doing all we can
with the means at present placed at our disposal.
William Cole,
March 28th, 1896. Hon. Curator.
Report on the Progress of the Epping Forest Museum.
[Presented by the Hon. Curator at the Annual Meeting, March 28th, 1896.
The origin of the scheme for the establishment of a Local Museum to illustrate
the Natural History, Geology, and Antiquities of the Old Waltham Forest District
was briefly detailed in the report of the meeting held at Queen Elizabeth's Lodge
on February 24th, 1894, and published in The Essex Naturalist (vol. viii.,
pp. 44-48).
At this meeting, which was attended by many gentlemen well qualified to
speak on such a subject, the following resolutions were unanimously passed :
" This meeting is of opinion that it is desirable (with the consent of the
Conservators) that a small, free Local Museum should be established in Queen
Elizabeth's Lodge, and pledges itself to do all in its power to promote the same.
" That a subscription list for raising the necessary funds be at once commenced,
so that the Local Committee may be enabled to approach the authorities with the
definite scheme."
In accordance with these resolutions a local Committee was at once formed,
the appointment of which was confirmed by the Council, and which now forms a
Sub-Committee of the Club, and consists, at present, of the following members :
Rev. A.F. Russell (Chairman), Mr. B. G.Cole, Mr. H.A.Cole, Rev. W.T. Dyne,
1 Mr. Smoothy has since removed all his specimens from the Museum.