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Volume 47, 1914
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Report of Standing Committee.

Five meetings of the Standing Committee have been held during the past year, the attendance being as follows: Professor Chilton, 4; Dr. Cockayne, 4; Professor Easterfield, 4; Mr. Ewen, 2; Mr. Hill, 1; Professor Kirk, 4; Professor Marshall, 1; Dr. Petrie, 1; Mr. Stewart, 1; Mr. G. M. Thomson, 2; Dr. Allan Thomson, 2; Mr. Turnbull, 1; Mr. Wilson, 1; Professor von Zedlitz, 4.

Hector Memorial Award.—The presentation of the medal to Mr. Elsdon Best took place in the Town Hall, Wellington, on the 5th September, 1914, the President, Professor Chilton, making the presentation.

Deed of Trust.—The alteration of the Hector Memorial Deed of Trust to make it rigidly conform to the conditions laid down by the Hector Memorial Committee when handing over the fund to the New Zealand Institute has now been completed. The firm of Chapman, Skerrett, Tripp, and Blair submitted a draft of the proposed amended deed, which was referred to a sub-committee, consisting of Professors Easterfield and von Zedlitz, who reported to the Standing Committee on the 27th June, 1914, as follows:—

“The Committee set up to report on the letter dated the 20th March from the firm of Chapman, Skerrett, Tripp, and Blair, and the draft resolution enclosed therewith, beg to report as follows:—

“1. The latter part of the letter in question made it appear that in the opinion of the legal expert the Governors were to take into consideration the scientific work done in some particular year. Mr. Skerrett has been further consulted on this point, and in a letter dated the 1st May makes it clear that the investigation in any particular subject, so as to qualify for the prize, may take place in any year or number of years preceding the year in which the prize is awarded.

“2. The Committee has carefully compared the draft resolution amending the regulations and the draft deed of covenant submitted by the Institute's legal advisers with the conditions imposed by the Hector Memorial Committee before the funds were vested in the Institute. They detected certain minor discrepancies, and suggested to Mr. Skerrett that these should be rectified. Mr. Skerrett agreed to this in his letter of the 1st May, 1914, and the committee is now of opinion that the deed should be executed.”

The amended deed was duly executed by the President and the Public Trustee on the 31st July, 1914.

Hutton Memorial.—The presentation of the Hutton Memorial Medal to the recipient for the year 1914, Dr. L. Cockayne, F.R.S., was made at the same time as the Hector Medal. The research grants made at the last annual meeting to Messrs. Hilgendorf (£10) and T. Hall (£20) were duly paid.

Publications.—Volume 46 of the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute” was issued on the 15th June, 1914, and was laid on the table of the House of Representatives and that of the Legislative Council on the 23rd July, 1914.

Bulletin No. 3, Part II, “Studies in the Bryology of New Zealand,” by Mr. H. N. Dixon, was issued on the 7th September, 1914.

Bulletin No. 1, Part II and Part III, “Description of New Genera and Species of Coleoptera,” was issued on the 20th May, 1914. Part IV is now in the press.

Finances of the Institute.—The incorporated societies have been duly circularized in connection with the motion of the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. C. A. Ewen, at the last annual meeting, which reads, “That, in terms of Regulation 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,” to which motion Professor Marshall moved the following amendment, which was carried: “That the question raised in the motion be referred to the different Institutes for consideration and report.” Replies of a favourable nature have already been received from the Otago Institute and the Wellington Philosophical Society.

British Association Reception Committee.—Arrangements had been made to publish, in co-operation with the Reception Committee, the proceedings of the Congress, but, as it was found impossible to hold the meetings, no further action was taken. A report of the Committee will be published elsewhere.

Decisions of the Standing Committee.—The only other decision of the Standing Committee that is of any importance is that the amount of the Hector Prize for 1914 shall be £45.

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Annual Reports of Societies.—The annual reports and balance-sheets of the following societies have been received: Auckland Institute, to 19th February, 1914; Manawatu Philosophical Society, to 31st October, 1914; Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, to 31st October, 1914; Wellington Philosophical Society, to 30th September, 1914; Nelson Institute (Scientific and Literary Branch), to 31st March, 1914; Wanganui Philosophical Society; and Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute.

Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco.—An exhibit of all the publications of the Institute available, and those of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute, was got together and handed over to the Secretary to the New Zealand Government Commissioner to the Panama Exposition for exhibition in the New Zealand Pavilion.

Memorial to the late Mr. Hamilton.—The Wellington Philosophical Society early last year undertook to collect funds for the erection of a memorial to the late Mr. Hamilton, Director of the Dominion Museum, and at the last meeting of the New Zealand Institute Board of Governors the action of the Wellington Philosophical Society was approved. The committee appointed by the Council of the Wellington Philosophical Society to deal with the matter now reports that the sum of one hundred guineas is in hand, and has ascertained from Mr. Harold Hamilton that the wishes of the family are that a stone should be erected on the grave at Russell. A plain monolith of Whangaroa basalt is suggested, with a reference thereon to the late gentleman's keen interest in the Maori race.

Leave of Absence.—During the year some changes were necessitated through leave of absence being granted to the Hon. Treasurer and the Secretary, to enable them to visit England. Professor G. W. von Zedlitz kindly undertook to carry on the duties of Hon. Treasurer, and Dr. J. Allan Thomson acted as Hon. Secretary, and Mr. Leighton was Assistant Secretary for six months.

Numbers of Volumes of the Transactions in Stock.—During the year the custodian has taken careful stock of the immense number of Transactions now stored in the cellar of the Parliament Buildings, as well as a small number kept in the Museum for current sales and exchange. The labour of turning over, examining, counting, and storing this number of books, each weighing a few pounds, will be appreciated when it is seen that the total amounts to 15,041 volumes.

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The following is acomplete list of the Transactions in stock:—
Volume. Number of Copies.
1 349
2 Nil
3 "
4 "
5 26
6 6
7 135
8 14
9 170
10 188
11 411
12 330
13 137
14 104
15 232
16 319
17 474
18 295
19 485
20 428
21 495
22 510
23 590
24 549
25 532
26 597
27 699
28 664
29 565
30 659
31 702
32 679
33 617
34 586
35 445
36 532
37 289
38 191
39 212
40 46
41 163
42 165
43 47
44 58
45 73
46 273

The report was considered and adopted.

Hector Deed of Trust.—On the motion of Mr. G. M. Thomson, seconded by Mr. K. Wilson, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Messrs. Chapman, Skerrett, Tripp, and Blair for the legal services which they have gratuitously rendered to the New Zealand Institute in connection with the Hector Deed of Trust.

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Financial Statements.—The Hon. Treasurer (Mr. C. A. Ewen) presented his statement of receipts and expenditure, and statement of assets and liabilities, for the year ending the 31st December, 1914, duly audited by the Deputy Auditor-General; and the Public Trustee's statements of the Carter Bequest, the Hutton Memorial Fund, and the Hector Memorial Fund, for the year ending the 31st December, 1914, duly audited by the Deputy Auditor-General. All of these statements were, on the motion of Mr. Hill, seconded by Mr. Turnbull, adopted.

Statement of Recetpts and Expfnditure for the Year ending 31st December, 1914.

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Receipts.
£ s. d.
Balance at credit in Bank of New Zealand 452 14 1
Government grant 500 0 0
Transactions sold locally 3 0 7
“Maori Art” sold 4 15 6
Bulletins sold 1 15 3
Authors' reprints 0 10 3
Wesley and Son, London: Transactions sold 13 6 3
Refund by Customs, account Dixon's bulletin 1 2 0
Postages refunded by societies 14 11 6
Hector Memorial Award 40 0 0
£1,031 15 5

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Expenditure.
£ s. d.
Governors' travelling - expenses 45 15 8
Fire - insurance premium, library, £1,500 5 0 0
Secretary's salary 25 0 0
Assistant Secretary's salary 25 0 0
Custodian's salary, 1913–14 10 0 0
Compiling catalogue scientific literature 10 0 0
Bank charge 0 10 0
Covers for posting Transactions 7 12 6
Government Printer, account vol. 45 and pamphlets 334 2 6
Hon. Editor, petty cash 3 0 0
Postage on Transactions 19 14 6
Whitcombe and Tombs, stationery 1 2 0
Secretary, petty cash 10 0 0
Hector Award to Professor Easterfield 40 0 0
536 17 2
Balance in Bank of New Zealand 494 18 3
£1,031 15 5

Balance at credit of the Institute in the Bank of New Zealand, Wellington £494 18 3

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Statement of Liabilities and Assets at 31st December, 1914.
Liabilities. Assets.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Dec. 31. To Balance due Government Printer 416 7 3
Cost compiling catalogue scientific literature 10 0 0
By Transactions, &c., sold, not paid for 37 17 8
Authors' reprints not yet paid for 5 5 5
Balance in Bank of New Zealand 494 18 3
426 7 3 538 1 4
Credit balance 111 14 1
£538 1 4 £538 1 4
By Balance £111 14 1

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

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Carter Bequest.—Statement of Accounts, 31st. December, 1913, to 31st December, 1914.
Dr. Cr.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
By Balance as at 31st December, 1913 Debentures— 3,411 0 8
Prior lien debenture stock fractional scrip 15 0 11
A and B stock fractional scrip 2 1 6
Interest, N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency 0 10 6
Dividends, N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency 0 7 9
Public Trust Office, interest 153 13 9
To Public Trust Office, commission and postages 0 10 0
Balance 3,582 5 1
£3,582 15 1 £3,582 15 1
By Balance £3,582 5 1

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Hutton Memorial Research Fund.—Statement of Accounts, 31st December, 1913, to 31st December, 1914.
Dr. Cr.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
By Balance as at 31st December, 1913 721 5 5
Public Trust Office, interest 31 10 4
To Beneficiary's Account. New Zealand Institute—Grant to J. Hall 20 0 0
Grant to Dr. Hilgendorf 10 0 0
Balance 722 15 9
£752 15 9 £752 15 9
By Balance £722 15 9

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Hector Memorial Fund.—Statement of Accounts, 31st December, 1913, to 31st December, 1914.
Dr. Cr.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
By Balance as at 31st December, 1913 1,077 7 3
Public Trust Office, interest 47 1 3
To Beneficiary's Account, New Zealand Institute: Award to Professor Easterfield 40 0 0
Balance 1,084 8 6
£1,124 8 6 £1,124 8 6
By Balance £1,084 8 6

Cost of Transactions.—On the motion of Professor Marshall, seconded by Mr. Speight, it was resolved, That the Hon. Treasurer be asked to make a statement of the cost of the volume each year of the New Zealand Institute Transactions and Proceedings, and of other publications issued by the Institute, for the last ten years; and that a statement of the cost of each volume be issued annually. *

[Footnote] * In accordance with this resolution the following return has been supplied by the Hon. Treasurer:—

[Footnote] The cost of printing the last ten volumes of Transactions of the New Zealand Institute is as follows: Vol. 37 (1904), £276 9s. 6d.; Vol. 38 (1905), £280 7s. 9d.; Vol. 39 (1906), £359 18s. 6d.; Vol. 40 (1907), £388 13s.; Vol. 41 (1908), £461 14s 9d.; Vol. 42 (1909), £570 15s. 6d.; Vol. 43 (1910), £412 10s.; Vol. 44 (1911), £427; Vol. 45 (1912), £374 10s.; Vol. 46 (1913), £323 5s. These amounts included the cost of printing the Proceedings separate and with the volumes.

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Hutton Fund Grants for Research.—Reports from Dr. Hilgendorf and Mr. T. Hall on the progress of the work for which grants were made to them last year were received.

Grants for the Present Year.—Several applications for grants from the fund, which had been received and referred to a special Committee, were dealt with by that Committee, who recommended that £15 be granted to Dr. C. A. Cotton as a contribution towards his travelling-expenses in an investigation of the physiographic features of the New Zealand coast, and £15 to Mr. W. R. B. Oliver, to defray expenses of travelling and apparatu for a visit to Lord Howe Island, undertaken in November, 1913.

Hector Award Committee.—The report of the Committee of Award was received, recommending the award for 1915 be made to Professor P. Marshall for his work on the geology of New Zealand. The recommendation of the Committee was unanimously adopted, and the President congratulated Dr. Marshall, who suitably replied.

Publication Committee's Report.—The report of the Publication Committee was received and approved, as follows:—

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