Abstract Report of the council.

During the past year nine general meetings have been held, at which forty two original papers on various subjects were read, all of which have been forwarded to the Governors of the New Zealand Institute for publication in the fourth volume of the Transactions. Amongst the authors of these papers will be found the names of seven new contributors, indicating the increasing interest taken in the labours of the Society.

The balance sheet shows that the actual receipts for the past year, including balance from previous account, amounted to £138 1s. 7d., and the expenditure to £40 2s. leaving a balance in hand, exclusive of any arrears of subscriptions, of £97 19s. 6s. The subscriptions of fifty members are in arrear, but will probably be soon collected. Twenty new members have; joined the Society, making the number at present 126.

The Chairman stated that an appropriation of £28 would shortly be made for the purchase of the Reports of the Geological Society from its commencement to within the last year or two.