The President referred to the loss the Society and science in general had sustained by the death of Mr. W. Skey.

Sir James Hector moved, That a record be made on the minutes of the Society, and a letter of sympathy forwarded to Mr. Skey's widow. Mr. Skey, he said, joined his department in 1862, and, with a natural bent for chemistry and diligent labour and study, he had attained such a position as to be recognised as one of the world's foremost authorities in certain branches of science. In Mr. Skey the colony had lost a good servant and an able scientific man.

Mr. G. C. T. Richardson seconded the motion, and Mr. Hustwick added his testimony to the value of Mr. Skey's researches.

The motion was unanimously adopted.