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Volume 45, 1912
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Annual Meeting: 24th February, 1913.
Professor H. W. Segar, President, in the chair.

Annual Report.—The annual report and audited financial statement was read to the meeting, and ordered to be printed and distributed among the members.

Abstract of Report.

Membership.—In several previous reports the Council have drawn attention to the fact that the members roll was by no means so large as should be the case in a city of the size and importance of Auckland. Early in the session an attempt

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was made to rectify this, and, mainly through the exertions of the Hon. E. Mitchelson and Mr. H. E. Vaile, no less than 162 have been elected. On the other hand, eleven names have been withdrawn from the roll, six of them from death. The total membership at the present time amounts to 386. Among the members removed by death are several who have been associated with the Institute for long periods. Notable among these is Sir John Logan Campbell, who for several years served as one of its Council, and who during the whole of his membership was one of its most liberal and consistent supporters. Members of the Institute are aware that among his numerous bequests is one of £1,000 in favour of the Institute. Two other names deserve special mention—those of Mr. John Webster and Major W. G. Mair. The latter, assisted by his brother, Captain Gilbert Mair, formed the valuable and extensive series which now form the basis of our Maori collection.

Finance.—The balance-sheets show that the total revenue credited to the Working Account, excluding the balance in hand at the commencement of the year, was £1,353 13s. 2d Last year the receipts were £1,273 5s. 10d., so that there has been a total increase of £80 7s. 4d. It will also be found that the invested funds of the Costley Bequest have yielded £350 2s. 8d., as against £392 7s. 6d. for the previous year. The Museum Endowment has contributed £511 10s. 6d. The large addition made to the members roll has resulted in the amount received from members' subscriptions being increased to £358 1s. The total expenditure amounts to £1,465 5s. 10d. The increase is principally due to three items—the cost of certain repairs, &c., to the Museum buildings and the construction of some showcases required in the Museum; an enlarged expenditure over the Museum itself, both in the purchase of additions and the necessary expense of their installation; and, finally, a more than usually large expenditure over the library. The balance in hand at the present time amounts to £108 1s.

In last year's report particulars were given of the special subscription fund, amounting to £621, which had been contributed by the citizens of Auckland for the purchase of ancient Maori carvings and other additions to the Museum, but which had been only partially expended at the time of the last annual meeting. Since then the balance of the fund has been applied to the purposes for which it was raised.

The capital funds of the Institute have been increased by £132 10s. during the year, the total amount now standing at £16,511 14s. 3d.

Early in the year the Council applied to the Government with the object of obtaining a parliamentary grant equivalent to the amount (£681) of the fund raised by the citizens of Auckland for the benefit of the Museum. After considerable negotiation a vote of £250 was promised, and has been duly approved by Parliament.

Meetings.—Eight meetings have been held during the year, at which the following lectures and papers were read:—

1.

Presidential address, “The Dwindling Sovereign,” by Professor H. W. Segar, M.A.
2.

“A Gentleman of Athens,” by Professor H W. Dettmann, M.A., B.C.L.
3.

“The Methods and Aims of Science,” by E. V. Miller.
4.

“Coal: its Products and their Applications to the Needs of Modern Life,” by H H. Morgan, B.Sc., A.R.C.S.
5.

“The Child and the Race,” by H. G. Cousins, M.A.
6.

“The Manuaute, or Maori Kite,” by Archdeacon P. Walsh.
7.

“The Problem of Tuberculosis,” by E. H. B. Milsom, M.R.C.S., M.D.
8.

“The Upper Congo: its Country and People,” by J. Steele.
9.

“On the Motion of Cirrus Clouds,” by H. B. Devereux, F.R.Met.Soc.
10.

“Concerning certain Ancient Maori Stone Implements found at Tauranga,” by C. A. Semadeni.
11.

“The Avifauna of the Kermadec Islands,” by T. Iredale.
12.

“Further Notes on the Birds of the Kermadec Islands,” by W. R. B. Oliver.
13.

“Descriptions of New Species and Varieties of Native Phanerogams,” by D. Petrie, Ph.D.
14.

“Note on the Pollination of Rhabdothamnus,” by D. Petrie, Ph.D.
15.

“On some Additions to the Flora of Mangonui County,” by H. Carse.
16.

“New Species of Plants,” by T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S.
17.

“New Genera and Species of Coleoptera,” by Major T. Broun, F.E.S.
18.

Anatomy of some New Zealand Representatives of the Order Araliaceae,” by Miss C. L. Beaumont; communicated by Professor A. P. W. Thomas.

Museum.—The number of visitors to the Museum has largely increased during the year. The progress made in the Museum during the past year has been satisfactory. Several collecting trips have been made, and through the kindness of the Marine Department Mr. Griffiths was twice carried free on the periodical trips of

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the “Hinemoa” around the North Island, thus receiving many opportunities for collecting fishes and other marine animals. Specimens received from other sources have also been dealt with during the year. The most interesting addition to the Zoological portion of the collections is a special group illustrating the life-history of the common shag or cormorant (Phalocrocorax varius). Mention may also be made of a series of birds from Norfolk Island, obtained from Mr. Quintal; a fine cassowary, presented by Mr. Vivian; several animals from the Onehunga Zoo, from the owner, Mr. Boyd; and a valuable collection of New Zealand and English birds' eggs, presented by Mr. H. C. Clark.

The Council have pleasure in drawing attention to several noteworthy additions to the Maori collections. Chief among them are the small collections purchased from Mrs. Palmer. All these are known to have been taken to England about the year 1795, and are excellent specimens of the best period of Maori workmanship. From Mr. Spencer the Museum has acquired what is probably the finest known greenstone matau; a greenstone manaia; a peculiar pekapeka; several remarkably good greenstone ear-pendants and other ornaments in greenstone; a very peculiar carved box intended to receive the skull of a chief; and a remarkably fine carved coffin of an entirely different type from those already in the Museum. Mr. Berry, of the Upper Waipa, has presented the figurehead and sternpost of the celebrated war-canoe “Te Atairehia,” which was owned by the first Maori King Potatau, and was used by him while residing at Ngaruawahia, before the Waikato War. Mr. G. Graham, so well known from his previous donations to the Museum, has contributed several further additions during the year Mr. H. B. Devereux, Mr. S. M. Clark, Mr. B. Roberts, and Mr. W. Wintle have made noteworthy presentations. The Council are glad to state that Mr. Arthur Eady has deposited in the Museum for a considerable time his fine collection of Maori articles, containing sixty-one specimens in all.

Library —The amount expended on the library this year is rather larger than usual, amounting to £236 2s. 9d. Two consignments of books, containing slightly over 100 volumes, have been received; and a third, numbering fifty-six volumes, is due to arrive within a fortnight. In addition to the purchase of books, a large expenditure has been incurred in binding scientific periodicals, the publication of societies, &c., nearly 100 volumes having been added to the library from that source alone.

The Council have pleasure in drawing special attention to two very extensive and acceptable presentations of scientific and geographical works made by Mr. Henry Shaw, who has been a frequent contributor to the library during past years, and by his brother, Mr. F. Shaw. These presentations include no less than 170 volumes, many of them being standard editions of well-known works. Mention should also be made of a complete set of Science Abstracts presented by Professor Brown.

Scott Expedition.—On motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Bagnall, it was resolved, That the Auckland Institute desires to express its profound regret at the disastrous loss of Captain Scott and his party during their return from the South Pole. It also wishes to state its admiration of the unswerving heroism of the party, which has left an example of devotion to duty and loyalty to one another which will endure for all time. It further desires to record its sympathy with the relatives of the deceased in their bitter and irreparable loss.

Gift of Books.—A special vote of thanks was awarded to Mr. Henry Shaw and Mr. F. Shaw for their very welcome and acceptable gift of 170 volumes of books dealing with geographical and natural science.

Election of Officers for 1913.—President—C. J. Parr, Esq., Mayor of Auckland; Vice-Presidents—Professor H. W. Segar, J. H. Upton; Council—Professor F. D. Brown, Professor C. W. Egerton, E. V. Miller, E. Mitchelson, T. Peacock, J. A. Pond, J. Reid, D. Petrie, J. Stewart, Professor A. P. W. Thomas, H. E. Vaile; Trustees—Professor F. D. Brown, T. Peacock, J. Reid, J. Stewart, J. H. Upton; Curator and Secretary—T. F. Cheeseman; Auditor—S. Gray.

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