Membership.—During the year fifteen new members have been elected, and twelve have either resigned or have been struck off, so that the number now stands at 178. The Council regrets to record the loss by death of Messrs. J. D. Enys and J. L. Scott, both of whom have been associated with this Institute for many years.

Antarctic Expedition.—Having been so intimately associated with Antarctic research, the Council learned with grief the sad news of the loss of Captain Scott, Dr. Wilson, and their companions in the sledging party from the South Pole. At a meeting held on the 11th February the Council placed on record its admiration for the great achievements in Antarctic exploration of Captain Scott and his associates, and conveyed to the families and relatives of those who had perished its deepest sympathy with them in their sorrow. At the suggestion of the Council, the Mayor of Christchurch convened a general meeting for the purpose of considering the establishment of a suitable memorial. It is gratifying to note that as a result a large sum of money has now been subscribed, and it is hoped that a memorial suitably commemorating the heroic deeds will shortly be erected.

British Association Meeting.—The Council desires to call attention to the meeting of the British Association in Australia in 1914, and hopes that a number who have been invited will extend their visit to New Zealand. According to the suggested programme, meetings are to be held in Wellington and Christchurch early in September. As the visit of these men will naturally stimulate local scientific work, a hearty welcome will be extended by the incoming Council to our visitors.

Obituary.—The Council feels that through the death of Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of the Dominion Museum and a past President of the New Zealand Institute, the cause of scientific endeavour in this land has lost a valued contributor, especially in the departments of ethnology and New Zealand bibliography. At a meeting on the 5th November the Institute expressed its sorrow and its sense of the loss sustained through his death.

The Council also notes with deep regret the death of the veteran naturalist Alfred Rússel Wallace, O.M., F.R.S., an honorary member of the New Zealand Institute, the co-discoverer with Darwin of the theory of Natural Selection. His researches in the geographical distribution of plants and animals have a special bearing on the problems of the origin of New Zealand flora and fauna, and have greatly stimulated research on the subject by New Zealand workers.

Science and Art Bill.—A Bill deahng with the Dominion Museum, Art Gallery, and the New Zealand Institute was introduced into Parliament, and the Council, in considering this Bill, took exception to the clauses referring to the representation of the New Zealand Institute on the Board established under the Bill. The Council also objected strongly to the sections relating to the publication and sale of the Transactions. It is noted with satisfaction that the clauses objected to have been deleted from the Bill, while recent information has been received that the sum of £250 has been placed on the estimates for the current year as an additional grant, in order to enable the Institute to publish the Transactions.

Arthur's Pass Tunnel Investigation.—During the past year the usual temperature observations were continued, and specimens of the rocks have been received for examination, in order to keep the series complete, but owing to the slow progress of the work no special results can yet be recorded.

Protection of the Fur Seal.—At the instance of the Otago Institute, the Council has written to the Minister of Marine, protesting against the removal of the protection hitherto accorded the fur seal. In addition, the attention of the Minister was called to the fact that the seals have been killed in the Sounds National Park. It is hoped that these representations will result in the renewal of the protection of the fur seals, otherwise this species will soon be quite exterminated.

Library.—The efficiency of the library has been fully mamtained, and the calls upon the available space have necessitated increased shelving being provided.

Antarctic Library.—The Council has kept the needs of this section well in view, and has purchased to the full extent of its available resources, the publications of the Deutsche Sud-Polar Expedition alone having absorbed a large sum. It is hoped that the publications of the “Belgica” Expedition may be obtained in the near future; but these also are expensive productions.

The Institute is most grateful to the French Government for presenting the publications of the two recent south polar expeditions under Dr. Charcot, and to Dr. Chilton, President of the Institute, for supplying various Antarctic works.

The Council was pleased to place the library at the disposal of the members of the British Antarctic Expedition under the late Captain Scott, and gratified to know that the privilege extended was largely availed of and appreciated by several members of the ill-fated expedition.