“I. That each society be left to publish its own proceedings in pamphlet-form or otherwise. The proceedings to comprise: 1. Minutes of meetings. 2. Abstracts of papers or short papers in full. 3. Reports on discussions.

“Each society publishing in pamphlet-form to be expected to exchange liberally with other incorporated societies.

“Papers published at length, or in exhaustive abstract, need not be sent to the Board for republication in the Transactions, unless they require fuller publication with illustration.

“II. The Board to publish transactions and memoirs only—namely: 1. An annual demy-octavo volume as at present, containing miscellaneous papers and general contributions, that require only slight illustrations, or do not form a whole or the definite part of a complete memoir or monograph on any subject. The octavo volume to be called ‘Transactions,’ and to be distributed free, as at present, to all members of the Institute. 2. A quarto volume of special memoirs and monographs that require full illustration, to be published in parts from time to time as funds permit. Authors to have an opportunity of revising the press and illustrations in the case of the quarto memoirs. The distribution of the memoirs to be on the following terms: To members of the Institute (exclusive of honorary members, who will get them free) at half cost-price, or by compounding by a single payment to the Institute, such compounders to be called Fellows of the Institute.

“That not more than one-fourth of the parliamentary grant be in any year devoted to publishing memoirs, unless in the case of an extra grant being specially made for such purpose.”

As a step towards the adoption of this arrangement, a fresh agreement was entered into with the publishers on the 8th February, 1886, whereby they undertake the entire responsibility of placing the annual volume before the scientific public in Europe and America, and take half the risk incurred in printing the volumes required, to meet the extra demand thus created.

Under this contract the printing of Vol. XVIII. was commenced in March, and completed towards the end of May.

This volume commences a new series of the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,” in which, for convenience and economy, the size of the page has been reduced from royal to demy octavo. An alphabetical index has also been added to the volume for the first time. A general alphabetical index of authors and subjects, for the seventeen volumes which constitute the first series, has been prepared, and will be issued to all members of the Institute.

Vol. XVIII. contains sixty-two articles, also addresses and abstracts of articles included in the Proceedings and Appendix.