His researches into the botany of New Zealand, commenced during the Antarctic voyages of Sir J. D. Ross, continued during the preparation of the “Flora Novæ Zelandiæ,” and culminating in the publication of the “Handbook of the New Zealand Flora,” have been of incalculable value to science in New Zealand, and have placed the study of its botany on a secure and lasting foundation, while the encouragement and assistance which he invariably gave to all students and investigators have been of the utmost service to those who have endeavoured to supplement his work.

The Board also desires that a copy of this resolution should be sent to Sir Joseph Hooker's family, with an expression of its sincere condolence, and an assurance of its sympathy in their sad bereavement.

Correspondence.—Letters from Dr. W. S. Bruce (21st September, 1911) acknowledging his election as honorary member, and from Hon. D. Buddo (3rd May, 1911) with reference to bathymetrical and biological surveys, were received.

Incorporated Societies' Reports.—The annual reports of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, the Manawatu Philosophical Society, the Otago Institute, and the Wellington Philosophical Society were received.

Standing Committee, Annual Report.—The annual report of the Standing Committee was read and adopted, on the motion of Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Chapman. The report was as follows:—

Report of the Standing Committee.

Four meetings of the Standing Committee were held during the year, the attendance being as follows: Mr. Cheeseman, 4 meetings; Professor Easterfield, 4; Mr. Hamilton, 4; Mr. Chapman, 3; Mr. Ewen, 3; Mr. Young, 1.

Hector Memorial Fund.—A deed of trust has been prepared, and is submitted for approval of the Board. Award for 1911: The Committee of Award has forwarded its recommendation in a sealed envelope, to be opened at the annual meeting.

Hutton Memorial Fund (Medal).—Professor Benham, F.R.S., the first recipient of the award, was publicly presented with the medal on the 4th April, 1911, by the Chancellor of the Otago University, James Allen, Esq., M P. The next award may be made in 1913.

Purchase of Back Numbers of the Transactions—A number of volumes have been received in exchange, and the Secretary is now able to supply sets of Transactions from Vol. 5 at the reasonable price of £15. The Committee submits that the possibility of reducing the immense stock of back numbers should be considered.

Publications of the Institute.—Copies of Vol 43 of the Transactions were, in accordance with the Act, laid on the table of the House of Representatives on the 11th August, and on the table of the Legislative Council on the 23rd August, 1911. This volume was posted simultaneously to all New Zealand members on the 17th August. The index to the first forty volumes of the Transactions of the Institute (1868–1907) was published in July, 1911. So far, only some twenty-five copies have been disposed of.

Finance.—The Standing Committee made an unsuccessful endeavour during the last session of Parliament to have the annual Government statutory subsidy of £500 increased. It is, however, hoped that a further effort in this direction which is to be made may be more successful. It will be necessary to consider methods for increasing the income of the Institute in order to enable its liabilities to be met The following are suggested as some ways in which money may be obtained and saving effected: (1.) By the payment by every incorporated society of a portion of its income to the Institute, as provided by Regulation 5E under the New Zealand Institute Act, 1903. (2.) By exercising greater economy in the travelling-expenses of members of the Board. (3.) By holding all meetings in Wellington.^* (4) By ceasing the separate publications of the Proceedings. That the incorporated societies should subsidize the Institute is only fair, since each of their members receives the bound copy of the Transactions and Proceedings, and Regulation 5E states that a proportional contribution may be required from each society towards the cost of publishing it. The payment of the hotel expenses of members of the Board, and the holding of the annual meeting away from Wellington, are recent innovations, entailing much extra expense. If all the members of the Board attended it would cost, for personal

expenses of members, £124 9s. 4d. to hold the annual meeting in Auckland, and only £50–19s. 10d. to hold it in Wellington. The separate publication of the Proceedings is an expensive experiment, of doubtful utility.

British Association Meeting in Australia, 1914—Several gentlemen having approached the Government with a request that it should financially assist the movement to induce some of the British Association members and a selection of American and Canadian men of science to visit New Zealand, a promise to give £2,000 was made by the Right Hon. the Premier. A Reception Committee has been formed having the following constitution: (1) The original signatories of the letter to the Premier; (2) the representatives of the Professorial Boards of the New Zealand University Colleges; (3) the representatives of the New Zealand Institute branches; (4) the New Zealand Institute subcommittee and the Secretary of the New Zealand Institute. As a result of their Committee's efforts, an invitation from the New Zealand Government was, in September, 1911, cabled to the High Commissioner in London, who was instructed to associate himself with Professor E. Rutherford and Mr. W. P. Reeves in communicating the invitation to the British Association, then meeting at Portsmouth. The invitation was accordingly put before the officers of the British Association at the September meeting. While of the opinion that the invitation should be accepted with their grateful thanks, the officers, seeing that the members of the Association would not visit New Zealand until early in 1915, asked to be allowed to postpone consideration of the invitation until the beginning of 1914, when they will communicate their intentions to the High Commissioner for New Zealand. Professor Maclaurin has been asked to act as the agent of the Committee in America.

Position of the Incorporated Societies.—Mr. Hamilton has given notice to move the following resolution: “That the names of the Southland and Westland Societies be removed from the list of societies incorporated in the New Zealand Institute, unless cause to the contrary be shown at the annual general meeting, or within one month afterwards.”

T. F. Cheeseman.

Return.—A return showing the cost of holding the annual meeting in Auckland compared with Wellington was received.

Government Statutory Grant.—It was proposed by Mr. Thomson, and seconded by Mr. Speight, That the Government be asked to amend the New Zealand Institute Act in the direction of increasing the annual statutory grant from £500 to £750; and, further, that it be asked to make a special grant for the current year of £250 to enable the Institute to meet its outstanding liabilities.—Carried.

Proceedings.—It was proposed by Mr. Chapman, and seconded by Mr. Speight, That, in the event of the Government declining to increase the statutory grant to the Institute, the publication of the proceedings be discontinued.—Carried.

Southland and Westland Societies.—Mr. Hamilton moved, and Mr. Chapman seconded, That the names of the Southland and Westland Societies be removed from the list of societies incorporated in the New Zealand Institute, unless cause to the contrary be shown at the annual general meeting in 1913, or within one month afterwards.—Carried.

Future Reports.—It was proposed by Mr. Speight, and seconded by Mr. Thomson, That the Secretary be instructed to furnish each member of the Board with a copy of the report of the Standing Committee, and the business to be submitted at the meeting, one week previous to the meeting of the Board of Governors.—Carried.

Reports of Incorporated Societies.—Mr. Chapman proposed, and Dr. Petrie seconded, That the affiliated societies be requested to furnish the information required under the resolution of the Board of the 27th January, 1911.—Carried.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure.—Mr. Hamilton moved, and Dr. Petrie seconded, That the audited statement of accounts be adopted.—Carried.

Professor Marshall proposed, and Dr. Hilgendorf seconded, That at future annual meetings of the Board of Governors a statement of assets and liabilities, duly audited, be added to the statement of receipts and expenditure.—Carried.

Statement of Receipts and Expenditure.

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Carter Bequest, Hutton Memorial Fund, and Hector Memorial Fund Statements.—It was proposed by Mr. Hamilton, and seconded by Dr. Petrie, That the audited statements of the Carter Bequest, the Hector Memorial Fund, and the Hutton Memorial Fund be received.—Carried.

A letter from Dr. Chilton with reference to his grant from the Hutton Fund was received.

Coleoptera.—The President detailed the steps he had taken regarding the proposed publication of Major Broun's work on the Coleoptera.—Approved.

Hector Memorial Deed of Trust.—On the motion of Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Dr. Petrie, the President and Secretary were authorized to affix the seal of the Institute to the Hector Memorial trust deed. (See Appendix, page 106.)

Hector Medal Award.—The recommendation of the Award Committee, which was received in a sealed envelope, was then read, and it was unanimously resolved, That the recommendation of the Hector Medal Committee, which recommended that the Hector Medal be awarded to Dr. Cockayne, be adopted.

Publication Committee Report.—This was read, and, on the motion of Mr. R. Speight, seconded by Mr. A. Hamilton, it was resolved, That the report of the Publication Committee be received. The report was as follows:—

Report of Publication Committee.

The Committee begs to report that during the year sixty-nine papers in all were sent in for publication in the Transactions and Proceedings; these were duly considered by the Committee, and were dealt with as follows: Six were published in the Proceedings—i.e., one in Part I, two in Part II, and two in Part III; one lengthy paper was reserved for separate publication; three papers were not recommended for publication; the remainder were published in the Transactions as fifty-seven papers, in three cases two papers dealing in each case with the same subject having been combined under one title. Notwithstanding that many of the papers were considerably cut down at the request of the Committee, both as regards text and illustrations, Vol. 43 of the Transactions proved to be rather larger than in the previous year, filling 680 pages, with 32 plates and a very large number of text figures. The Transactions were issued on the 1st July, 1911; the first part of the Proceedings, pages 1 to 30, was issued on the 10th September, 1910; the second part, pages 31 to 58, on the 18th January, 1911; and the third part, pages 59 to 128, on the 12th May, 1911.

The Committee regrets that, owing to financial reasons, it has not yet been found possible to print the paper that was reserved for separate publication.

In accordance with the resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Board of Governors in January, 1911, approving of the policy of printing short scientific papers in the Proceedings, six papers were printed in the Proceedings, 1911, Part I; this part, comprising 33 pages, was issued on the 30th August, 1911, Part II is now in the Printer's hands, and in it two short papers are being published.

The Committee desires to emphasize again the desirability of having the scale of charges for authors' reprints definitely fixed and printed, so that the probable cost of additional copies may be readily obtainable. This step was considered and approved by the last meeting of the Board of Governors, but up to the present no schedule of charges has been furnished.

With a view to diminishing the cost of the Transactions without interfering with its value as a scientific publication, the Committee wishes to affirm the principle that the use of photographs, unless of excellent character, should be discouraged, unless they serve to illustrate more satisfactorily the features which the author

desires to draw attention to. Even moderately executed drawings are at times more explanatory from a scientific point of view than a good photograph.

The Committee would also like to recommend, unless the matter is out of its province, that a list of publications actually received by the Institute should be inserted in the Transactions in addition to the list of the societies, &c., to which the Transactions are sent free of charge. This would give at times important information as to the presence in New Zealand of papers that are of value to workers in many branches of science.

The Committee would also recommend that theses written for honours degrees should be pruned of all superfluous matter before being published in the Transactions. Maps and sections coloured as suitable for examination purposes should be redrawn in a form and character adapted for printing in the Transactions, and the Secretaries of societies should see to this before accepting them for transmission to the Editor.

In October Dr. Chilton resigned from his position as Honorary Editor, as he was about to visit Europe, and, with the approval of the President, the Publication Committee arranged with Mr. R. Speight to act as Honorary Editor till the annual meeting of the Board of Governors in January.

R. Speight, Acting Hon. Editor.

Hon. Librarian's Report.— The report of the Hon. Librarian was received, as follows:—

Hon. Librarian's Report.

I have to report that very little has taken place in regard to the library during the last year.

The usual exchanges have been received and noted.

Additional pigeon-holes have been provided for the better storage of some of the serial publications.

Very little use has been made of the library, except by one or two college students

I have again to regret that it seems impossible to have this collection of books properly attended to. It needs the constant care and attention of a qualified librarian, and the position will always be unsatisfactory until this is arranged for.

A. Hamilton, Librarian.

Exchange List Committee.—The report of the Exchange List Committee was received, and, on the motion of Mr. Chapman, seconded by Mr. Wilson, it was resolved, That the B list of the Exchange Committee's report be referred to the Standing Committee to act on the recommendations of the Exchange Committee. The report of the Committee was as follows:—

Exchange List Committee Report.

The Committee on Exchanges reports that it drew up an interim report, a copy of which was printed and sent out to each of the members for their detailed consideration.

The societies, &c., who send or receive publications were classed under the following heads:—

The Committee was asked to make suggestions on these three lists, and in order to assist it in the consideration of the matter further lists were added.

These three lists were simply included to point out what literature was available in Wellington, as it was understood that, although the publications in the D and F lists are not the property of the Institute, the members of the Institute are at liberty to borrow them for consultation.

It was also thought that a list of those works which are available would prevent perhaps unnecessary duplication again.

The general feeling of the Committee appears to be that those societies on the B list, with few exceptions, should be struck off the list of those to whom the publications of the Institute are sent, it being understood that if they still desire to receive our publications they should state what publications of their own they are willing to send in regular exchange.

Your Committee therefore suggests that during the current year the matter should be taken in hand, and a notice sent explaining why the current volume is not forwarded as usual.

Your Committee hopes that during the present year some steps may be taken to reorganize the library under a permanent librarian, who shall devote more time to its proper custody and arrangement than is possible at the present time.

For the Committee (Professor Easterfield and Mr. Hamilton).

A. Hamilton.

Committee to formulate Regulations. —The report of the Committee was received, and, on the motion of Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Hesse, it was resolved, That the regulation relating to the adoption of the seal be gazetted. The report was as follows:—

Committee To Formulate the Regulations.

Your Committee has considered the various regulations passed by the Standing Committee since the annual meeting, 1904, a copy of which is annexed.

Mr. Chapman has kindly gone through the whole of the regulations or resolutions very carefully, and finds that the only one, in his opinion, that requires to be gazetted as a regulation in accordance with the Act is the one relating to the readoption of the old seal of the former Institute as the seal of the Institute under the new Act.

There are a few others: No. 5, Travelling-expenses of Governors to be paid; No. 6, The money of the Carter Bequest to be placed in the hands of the Public Trustee as trustee for the Institute; No. 14, That it is not competent for members (sic) of the Board to hold any paid office under the Board; No. 19, That a certain number (say, ten) of separate copies of papers be printed for the Institute in addition to the copies supplied to the author; “and No. 20, That the Editor be the convener of the Publication Committee. These might, without any harm, be made regulations by the Institute in a formal manner, and might then be gazetted.

It is not considered necessary that the other resolutions be gazetted as regulations.

For the Committee (Messrs. A. Hamilton, M. Chapman, T. F. Cheeseman, and Dr. Chilton).

A. Hamilton.

Hector Medal Committee. —The report of the Committee to obtain the Hector Memorial Medal was received, as follows:—

Report of Committee to Obtain the Hector Medal.

The Committee beg to report that they have communicated with Messrs. Wyon, and instructed them to proceed with the designing of the Hector Medal in accordance with suggestions forwarded by the Committee.

Messrs. Wyon, when the design was ready, were to submit it for approval to Sir Edward Thorpe.

Subsequent correspondence shows that this has been done, and your Committee have every hope that a copy of the medal will be ready to lay before the Board of Governors at the annual meeting.

For the Committee (Mr. A. Hamilton and Professor Easterfield).

A. Hamilton.

British Association Reception Committee.—The report of the Committee was received, as follows:—

Report Of Committee To Deal With Australian Visit of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

Your Committee have met and drawn up lists of American scientific men whom it would be desirable to invite to New Zealand to attend a gathering of the members of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

The formal invitation to the members of the British Association was communicated to the Council by the High Commissioner for New Zealand in September.