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Volume 40, 1907
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Thirty-Ninth Annual Report.

The fourth annual meeting of the Board of Governors under the New Zealand Institute Act of 1903 was held in the Dominion Museum, Wellington, on the 31st January, 1907, and was attended by ten members, under the presidency of Sir James Hector. The representatives of the Governor in Council were Messrs. A. Hamilton, J. W. Joynt, E. Tregear, and J. Young. The representatives of the various incorporated societies who were elected in accordance with the Act were: Auckland Institute—Professor Thomas and Mr. J. Stewart; Wellington Philosophical Society—Professor Easterfield and Mr. M. Chapman; Philosophical Institute of Canterbury—Professor Chilton and Dr. Farr; Otago Institute—Professor Benham and Mr. G. M. Thomson; Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute—Mr. H. Hill; Nelson Institute—Dr. Cockayne; Westland Institute—Mr. T. H. Gill; Manawatu Philosophical Society—Mr. W. J. O'Donnell.

The following officers were elected for the year: President—Mr. G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., F.C.S.; Treasurer—Mr. Martin Chapman, K.C.; Editor of the Transactions, and Librarian—Mr. A. Hamilton; Secretary—Mr. T. H. Gill, M.A., LL.B.

The honorary members elected were Messrs. F. E. Beddard, F.R.S.; J. Milne, F.R.S.; G. R. Brady, F.R.S.; and Dr. A. Dendy, F.R.S. During the year three honorary members have died—viz., Mr. Alfred Newton, F.R.S.; Mr. Robert J. Ellery, F.R.S.; and Lord Kelvin, F.R.S.—leaving twenty-six on the roll. It will, therefore, be necessary to elect four new members.

The world of science in general and the New Zealand Institute in particular have sustained a great loss by the death of Sir James Hector, F.R.S., a former President of this Institute. His additions to the knowledge of the botany and zoology of the Dominion, especially in the earlier years of his work here, were extensive and valuable; but it was chiefly in his position as first Director of the Geological Survey of these Islands that he made his mark as a scientific man. He acted as chief scientific adviser of successive Governments during a period of over thirty years; while the Senate of the New Zealand University showed their appreciation of his work in education by electing him Chancellor, a position he held for many years. The question of considering what steps should be taken to per-

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petuate his memory in a suitable manner will be brought up at the annual meeting.

Two years ago the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury took the initiative in the matter of instituting the Hutton Memorial Research Fund. The New Zealand Institute set up a committee, consisting of Drs. Chilton (convener) and Cockayne, Messrs. R. M. Laing and Speight, to deal with the question and to report. That committee was reappointed at the last annual meeting, when general and also detailed regulations were submitted and agreed to. It will be necessary for this coming meeting to determine when the fund shall become operative.

The members now on the roll of the various incorporated societies are as follows: Auckland Institute, 164; Wellington Philosophical Society, 101; Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 147; Otago Institute, 116; Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 46; Nelson Institute, 30; Westland Institute, 46; Manawatu Philosophical Institute, 63: total, 713.

Transactions.—The volumes of Transactions at present on hand are—Vol. I (second edition), 315; Vol. V, 31; Vol. VI, 22; Vol. VII, 144; Vol. IX, 215; Vol. X, 139; Vol. XI, 392; Vol. XII, 305; Vol. XIII, 142; Vol. XIV, 107; Vol. XV, 280; Vol. XVI, 270; Vol. XVII, 530; Vol. XVIII, 308; Vol. XIX, 555; Vol. XX, 452; Vol. XXI, 454; Vol. XXII, 560; Vol. XXIII, 570; Vol. XXIV, 670; Vol. XXV, 626; Vol. XXVI, 613; Vol. XXVII, 605; Vol. XXVIII, 688; Vol. XXIX, 591; Vol. XXX, 685; Vol. XXXI, 695; Vol. XXXII, 518; Vol. XXXIII, 611; Vol. XXXIV, 564; Vol. XXXV, 526; Vol. XXXVI, 686; Vol. XXXVII, 604; Vol. XXXVIII, 750.

The volume just published, Vol. XXXIX, contains 576 pages and 26 plates, in addition to a photograph and an “In memoriam” notice of the late Sir Walter Buller. The contents of the last two volumes are compared as follows:—

Vol. XXXVIII (1905) Vol. XXXIX (1906)
Pages. Pages.
Miscellaneous 130 76
Zoology 173 210
Botany 86 189
Geology 135 47
Chemistry and physics 50 Nil.
Records of Milne seismographs 6 Nil.
Proceedings 33 31
Appendix 21 23
634 576

The whole of the work was done, as formerly, at the Government Printing Office. It is matter for regret that, owing to

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the pressure at the office, the publication of the last volume was delayed so late in the year.

Three years ago the New Zealand Institute obtained permission from the Colonial Secretary to store back numbers of the Transactions in the cellar of the Library in the Parliamentary Buildings. There are now about fifteen thousand volumes stored there. Fortunately, in the great conflagration which recently destroyed the greater part of those buildings the Library was saved, and the volumes are not damaged.

Carter Bequest.—The amount standing to the credit of the fund on the 31st December, 1907, was £2,617 11s. 10d. In addition, there is a quantity of scrip in the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company at face value. The money is invested by the Public Trustee, and is earning interest at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum. This fund represents a bequest by the late C. R. Carter to the New Zealand Institute for the purpose of establishing an astronomical observatory. The fund has been accumulating for some years, and on the 31st December last was as stated above.

Financial.—Herewith is presented the balance-sheet for the year just ended. From this it will be seen that the credit balance amounts to £361 5s. 11d.

Receipts. £ s. d.
Jan. 1.—Balance forward 344 14 8
Sale of Transactions 6 11 1
Sale of “Maori Art” 8 8 0
Contribution, Wellington Philosophical Society 16 5 6
Government grant 500 0 0
£875 19 3
Expenditure. £ s. d.
Printing Transactions 359 18 6
Expenses of members (three) 8 14 4
Services—
W. McKay 6 1 0
C. Freyberg 10 0 0
Editor 50 0 0
Secretary 25 0 0
Library 30 12 9
General expenses—
Express Company 6 11 11
Andrews 1 10 0
Whitcombe and Tombs 2 7 6
Small accounts, postage, &c. 13 7 4
Bank charge 0 10 0
514 13 4
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[The section below cannot be correctly rendered as it contains complex formatting. See the image of the page for a more accurate rendering.]

£ s. d.
Balance in bank, 28th January, 1908 415 8 11
Petty cash in hand 2 7 0
417 15 11
Less unpresented cheques 56 10 0
361 5 11
£875 19 3
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