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2 
Dated March 31,1932
I.- PUBLICKLIBRARY: This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment; the total number of volumes on the 31st december 1931 reached 500.327, the additions for the year numbering 13,694. The financial condition of the State again seriously affected the purchasing-power of the Institution.

The historical section has been very popular and the Committee of Trustees conferred with the representatives of the Education Department, and recommended that a Children's Library should be established in connection with the Public library, when accommodation were available and finances permitted.

Mrs. James DYER forwarded the first instalment of the collection of Music. It consisted of part of the printed works of Gustave Holst purblished by Messrs. Nocello & Co Ltd., as well as a number of unpublished compositions. 

TI.- THE NATIONAL GALLERY: Mr. Randall Davies, the Art Adviser who had been requested to visit Melbourne met the Trustees in the Board Room on Feb 21st and attended a special meeting on March 12. An amended letter of instructions was considered and suggested purchases and methods of selection were discussed in detail. Owing, however, to the present difficulties in transmitting funds to London, it was decided that purchases should be temporarily restricted. Mr. Davies left for London on March 17th..

Mr. Ernest MAKOWER reported that he had completed the selection of a collection of old english silver plate. It was agreed that this should be lent to the London Museum for exhibiting before being forwarded to Melbourne.

The Public [[strikethrough]] Library [[/strikethrough]] Art Gallery of Dunedin, New-Zealand, requested that the Trustees should cooperate in the formation of an Empire Art Loan Collection Society. The Trustees agreed to subscribe £25 a year for three years, provided that the London Committee continued its operations.

........ ..Photographs of the  oil painting entitled: "The Decent from the Cross" purchased from the estate of the late Lucy Smith, of Hampton, were sent to the Directors of several European Galleries, by whom the painting was identified as being Flemish and of the School of the Pseudo-Bles of the XVIth century.

The Trustees of the late George du Maurier presented a collection of his pen and ink drawings to the Commonwealth Government for distribution to Australian National Galleries. Thirteen drawings were allotted to this Gallery.