Auckland Institute.First Meeting: 12th June, 1911. Mr. J. H. Upton, President, in the chair.

New Members.—Messrs. A. W. Clark, F. N. R. Downard, T. Ellison, Edwin Hall, J. W. Hall, R. D. Gunson, Dr. R. H. Makgill, Dr. Milsom, Dr. Rossiter, Rev. D. D. Scott, Mrs. R. H. Shakespear, J. J. Walklate, and S. Walker.

The President delivered the anniversary address, taking as his subject “Free Public Libraries and Museums.”

He made a reference to the public libraries of ancient times, and to the people who possessed them. Some remarks were given on the libraries of the present times. Consideration was given to the best methods of maintaining libraries, and the dangers were described that are likely to follow upon the injudicious admission of inferior books. He held that the main purpose of a public library should be educational. Museums were regarded as institutions supplementary to public libraries. A reference was made to several well-known public museums, and an outline was given of what a museum may be.