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Volume 46, 1913
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Standing Committee Annual Report for the Year ending 31st December, 1913.

Four meetings of the Standing Committee have been held during the past year, the attendance being as follows: Mr. Chapman, 1; Mr. Cheeseman, 1; Dr. Chilton, 3; Dr. Cockayne, 1; Mr. Ewen, 3; Mr. Hamilton, 3; Mr. Hesse, 2; Professor Kirk, 3; Mr. Petrie, 2; Mr. Stewart, 1; Mr. Thomson, 2; Mr. Turnbull, 2; Mr. Wilson, 2; Mr. Young, 1.

Hector Memorial Award.—The presentation of the medal to Professor Easterfield, the recipient for the year 1913, took place at the Town Hall, Wellington, on the 9th July, 1913. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Liverpool, made the presentation.

Award for 1914.—The Committee of Award—Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, Mr. Etheridge, and Professor Baldwin Spencer—have made a recommendation which will be considered at the annual meeting.

Deed of Trust.—The possibility of altering the Hector Deed of Trust in order to conform to the conditions laid down by the Hector Memorial Committee has been under consideration by the Board's solicitors, and legal opinion will be submitted for consideration at the annual meeting.

Hutton Memorial Fund.—Two applications for grants have been received, and are submitted for consideration of the Board. Professors Benham (Dunedin) and David (Sydney), with Mr. Maiden (Sydney), have made a recommendation of a recipient for the award in 1914.

Publications of the Institute.—Copies of vol. 45 of the Transactions were laid on the table of the House of Representatives on the 3rd July, 1913, and on the table of the Legislative Council on the 27th June, 1913. In accordance with a resolution of the Board, the separate publication of the Proceedings has ceased.

Bulletin No. 3, “Studies in the Bryology of New Zealand,” by Mr. H. N. Dixon, was published on the 30th June, 1913. A number of copies have been distributed gratis to periodicals for review purposes in accordance with a list of botanical magazines kindly supplied by Dr. L. Cockayne, F.R.S.

Finances of the Institute.—Mr. G. M. Thomson reported that, in conjunction with Dr. A. K. Newman, M.P., Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., and Mr. H. G. Ell, M.P., he had brought the question of the financial needs of the Institute before the Hon. H. D. Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs. While the Minister was not prepared to recommend the Government to amend the New Zealand Institute Act in the direction of altering the statutory grant from £600 to £750, he had secured a special grant of £260 for the current year.

Fishes of New Zealand.—The desirability of having a catalogue of the fishes of New Zealand prepared was again brought before the notice of the Minister of Marine by Mr. G. M. Thomson, but in view of the projected examination of the fishery resources of the Dominion by Professor Prince, of Canada, the Government are not prepared to take any immediate action in the desired direction.

British Association Reception Committee.—This Committee, on which the Institute is well represented, is making arrangements for receiving in New Zealand after the close of the Sydney meeting a certain number of the official members of the British Association at the Australian meeting. It is anticipated that meetings will be held in Wellington and Christchurch. Fifteen American and Canadian scientists will be invited

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to meet the British visitors. The New Zealand Government has continued the offer of its predecessors in office, and is represented on the Committee by Mr. James Hislop, Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs. A pamphlet setting forth the attractions which New Zealand offers to the man of science has been prepared, and is now in the press

Decisions of the Standing Committee.—The only resolution which calls for record passed by the Standing Committee during the year was that the amount of the Hector Award for 1913 should be £40.

Annual Reports of Societies.—The annual reports and balance-sheets of the follow-ing societies have been received: Auckland Institute, to 19th February, 1913; Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, to 12th December, 1913; Manawatu Philosophical Society, to 31st October, 1913; Wellington Philosophical Society, to 24th October, 1913; Canterbury Philosophical Institute, to 31st October, 1913; Otago Institute, to 28th November, 1913.

Southland and Westland Societies.—In accordance with the resolution of the Board of Governors, the names of these societies ceased to appear as incorporated societies one month after the last annual meeting, held on the 29th January, 1913.

Special General Meeting to consider the Science and Art Bill.—A special meeting of the Board was held in Wellington on the 5th September, 1913. Present: Professor Charles Chilton, President (in the chair), Hon. H. D. Bell, K.C. (Minister of Internal Affairs), Mr. M. Chapman, K.C, Mr. C. A. Ewen, Professor C. C. Farr, Mr. A. Hamilton, Mr H. W. Hesse, Professor H. B. Kirk, Mr. D. Petrie, Mr. James Stewart, C.E., Mr. G. M. Thomson, M.P., Mr. A. H. Turnbull, and Mr John Young.

The President detailed the reasons for calling the Board together, which was to discuss the Science and Art Bill before Parliament. He read the resolutions passed by the Otago Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, and the Auckland Institute, objecting to the passing of the Bill in its present form.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. H. D. Bell) explained the intentions of the Government with regard to the Institute as affected by the Bill.

The Minister's proposal and the Bill was then fully discussed in committee, and on the motion of Professor Kirk, seconded by Mr. Petrie, it was resolved, on the casting-vote of the Chairman, That the Institute cannot agree to the proposal that the issue of its Transactions and Proceedings should come under review of an outside Board.

On the motion of Mr. Stewart, seconded by Mr. A. Hamilton, it was resolved, That in the fixing of the constitution of the Board of Science and Art the representation of the New Zealand Institute should be increased to four members.

On resuming, it was resolved to adopt the motions passed in committee.

On the motion of Mr. Young, seconded by Mr. Chapman, it was resolved that the President should attend the Committee of the Houses of Parliament to which the Bill was referred, and give evidence on behalf of the Institute.

It was left with the President and Mr. Hamilton to confirm the minutes.

Scientific Board of Advice.—Mr. G. M. Thomson, M.P., reports as follows: In furtherance of the recommendations made during the session of 1912 by the Museum and Scientific Departments Parliamentary Committee, the Government introduced a Science and Art Bill into the House of Representatives on the 27th August, which was referred to a Select Committee for report. Under this Bill it was proposed to set up a Board to control the Dominion Museum, a Dommion Art Gallery, and a Dominion Scientific Library, as well as the scientific publications of the Government and of the New Zealand Institute. The composition and powers of this Board were not acceptable to the executive of the Institute, and evidence to that effect was given before the Committee by your President, Professor Charles Chilton, with the result that the connection of the Institute with the proposed Board was severed, only that the President of the New Zealand Institute becomes ex officio a member of the Board.

On the motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Stewart, it was resolved, That the thanks of the Governors be accorded to Mr. G. M. Thomson, M.P., and the gentlemen who accompanied him to interview the Hon. H. D. Bell.

Finance.—Balance - sheet, assets and liabilities statement, and the balance-sheets of the Carter Bequest, the Hutton Memorial, and the Hector Memorial Funds, duly audited by the Auditor-General, were adopted, as follows:—

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Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1913.
Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d.
Balance at credit in Bank of New Zealand 151 1 5 Travelling-expenses 58 8 2
Government grant to 31st March, 1914 500 0 0 Fire-insurance premium, library, £1,500 5 0 0
Supplementary Government grant 250 0 0 Secretary's salary 30 0 0
Sale of Transactions and Index 35 2 0 Museum custodian's services 5 0 0
" “Maori Art” 9 2 10 Compiling catalogue scientific literature 10 0 0
" authors' reprints 1 13 6 Bank charge 0 10 0
" 3,000 envelopes 2 8 0 Covers for posting Transactions 5 12 6
Postage on Transactions 18 19 0
Miss Wilson, typing 5 0 0
West, Newman, and Co., four blocks, mosses 4 3 6
Customs duty on four blocks, Dixon's bulletin 1 2 0
Sir Joseph Hooker Memorial 1 1 0
Government Printer, vols. 44 and 45 345 17 6
Petty cash—
Hon. Editor 3 0 0
Secretary 3 0 0
496 13 8
Balance in Bank of New Zealand 452 14 1
£949 7 9 £949 7 9

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Statement of Liabilities and Assets at 31st December, 1913.
Liabilities. £ s. d. Assets. £ s. d.
Dec. 31. Balance due Government Printer, vol. 45 283 10 0 Balance in Bank of New Zealand 452 14 1
Refund of Customs duty 1 2 0
Wesley and Son, Transactions sold 13 7 8
Authors' reprints 3 6 4
Credit balance 191 10 7 “Maori Art” sold to Braithwaite 4 10 6
£475 0 7 £475 0 7

In addition to the above assets, the Institute has a large stock of Transactions for sale and a very valuable library.

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Carter Bequest.—Statement of Accounts, 31st December, 1912, to 31st December, 1913.
Cr. £ s. d. Dr. £ s. d.
Balance at 31st December, 1912 3,264 8 7 Public Trust Office commission 0 0 7
Debentures, N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company 0 5 0 Balance 3,411 0 8
Interest, N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company 0 14 5
Dividend, N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Company 0 1 8
Interest, Public Trust Office 145 11 7
£3,411 1 3 £3,411 1 3
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Hector Memorial Fund.—Statement of Accounts, 31st. December, 1912, to 31st December, 1913.
Cr. £ s. d. Dr. £ s. d.
Balance as at 31st December, 1912 1,030 15 1 Balance 1,077 7 3
Interest, Public Trust Office 46 12 2
£1,077 7 3 £1,077 7 3

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Hutton Memorial Research Fund.—Statement of Accounts, 31st December, 1912, to 31st December, 1913.
Cr. £ s. d. Dr. £ s. d.
Balance as at 31st December, 1912 690 4 0 Balance 721 5 5
Interest, Public Trust Office 31 0 7
£721 5 5 £721 5 5

It was proposed by Mr. D. Petrie, seconded by Dr. L. Cockayne, That the Board of Governors press on the Government the need of increasing the statutory grant in aid of the New Zealand Institute from £500 to £1,000 a year.—Carried.

The following motion was proposed by Mr. Hill, and, after discussion, was withdrawn: “That the Government be recommended to set aside an area of land as an endowment to the New Zealand Institute Board of Governors to enable them to obtain a sufficient income to foster original research in natural and physical science in a way deemed necessary by the Governors.”

On the motion of Mr. C. A. Ewen, seconded by Dr. Cockayne, it was proposed, That, in terms of Regulation No. 5, section (e), the Institute, on and after this date, will require from each of the incorporated societies a contribution of 2s. 6d. per member. Professor Marshall moved the following amendment, which was seconded by Dr. Hatherly: That the question raised in the motion be referred to the different Institutes for consideration and report. The amendment was carried by nine votes to five.

British Association Reception Committee.—Dr. Thomson announced that the Minister desired that he should take the late Mr. Hamilton's place on the Committee.

Charge for Authors' Reprints.—On the motion of Mr. Speight, seconded by Mr. Ewen, it was resolved, That the affiliated societies be asked to collect the amounts due for authors' reprints, and forward the same to the Secretary of the New Zealand Institute.

Hutton Memorial Award.—The report of the Award Committee was received in a scaled envelope. The President announced that the Committee recommended the name of Dr. Leonard Cockayne, F.R.S., who has done admirable work on the ecology of New Zealand plants, for the medal for the present year. The recommendation of the Committee was unanimously adopted. The President congratulated Dr. Cockayne, who suitably responded.

Hutton Fund Research Grants.—Application for grants from the fund were received from Major Broun, on behalf of Mr. T. Hall, for a grant of £20 for collecting entomological and other specimens of the New Zealand

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fauna for Dr. Chilton and for Major Broun; and from Dr. Hilgendorf for a grant of £10 for apparatus required for researches on artesian wells in Canterbury. On the motion of Professor Easterfield, seconded by Mr. G. M. Thomson, M.P., the applications were granted.

Hutton Memorial.—On the motion of Mr. Speight, seconded by Dr. Cockayne, it was resolved, That grants from the Hutton Memorial Fund may be made to approved individuals for some specified research, and that a committee be set up, consisting of Professors Chilton and Marshall and Dr. Cockayne, to make suggestions to this Board, and that such suggestions be considered when applications for grants are being considered by the Board.

On the motion of Professor Easterfield, seconded by Mr. G. M. Thomson, it was further resolved, That the Institute draw the attention of the local societies to the existence of the Hutton Research Fund, and request that the attention of the members of the local branches be directed to the conditions.

Hector Memorial Fund.—The legal opinion of Mr. C. P. Skerrett, K.C., on the declaration of trust deed, and a letter from the Deputy Public Trustee, dated 27th January, 1914, were read. On the motion of Professor Farr, seconded by Professor Marshall, the matter was referred to the Standing Committee, with power to act.

Hector Memorial Award.—The report of the Award Committee was received in a sealed envelope. The President announced that the Committee recommended the medal should be awarded to Mr. Elsdon Best, of the Dominion Museum, Wellington, for his researches on the ethnology of New Zealand. On the motion of Mr. G. M. Thomson, seconded by Professor Kirk, the recommendation of the Committee was adopted.

Publication Committee Report.—The following report of the Publication Committee was received:—

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