Volume 56 was issued on the 12th July, 1926, more than a year after the date expected. It contains 21 plus 860 pages (of which 113 were Proceedings

and Appendix) with 114 plates. The volume contains 62 papers by 48 authors.

A fifth instalment of Dixon's “Bryology of New Zealand” has been received, and will be printed early in 1927: this part will be accompanied by a plate. There will be one more part, with index, when the whole will be completed.

Owing to unavoidable delays which have continually deferred the issue of the volume during the past few years, tenders were called for the printing from outside firms, and the tender of Messrs. Ferguson and Osborn was accepted. The material ready was handed to the new printers as soon as possible, and it was hoped that this Volume, No. 57, might have been laid on the table. Practically the whole of it is in type, over 500 pages are in page form, and the first authors' copies were issued on 9th October, 1926, only three months after Volume 56 had been issued. Volume 57 will therefore, be out in February, when the quarterly issue will be begun with Volume 58.

Johannes C. Andersen,

This report was adopted. On the motion of Dr. Farr, seconded by Professor Worley, it was resolved, “That in view of the fact that the price charged by the Government Printing Office for printing the Transactions has been greatly in excess of that now charged by a private printing office, the Minister be asked to look into the amount charged for the last three volumes with the object of either wiping out or greatly reducing the amount debited to the Institute by the Government.”

Observatory Boards.—Letters were received from Dr. Marsden asking for nomination of four representatives of the Institute on a Board of Advice for the Dominion Observatory. On the motion of Dr. Farr the following were nominated for both Boards:—Professors Farr, Burbidge, Sommerville and Mr. Gifford.

Date and, Place of Annual Meeting.—On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Thomson it was resolved that the next Annual Meeting be held in Wellington on the last Thursday in January, 1928. Carried.

Travelling Expenses.—Mr. Eliott moved that the travelling expenses of the Board of Governors be paid. Carried.

Votes of Thanks.—The Hon. Mr. Thomson moved and Mr. Hill seconded, a cordial vote of thanks to the officers and to those providing afternoon tea.

The following officers were elected for 1927:—President, Mr. B. C. Aston; Hon. Secretary, Dr. P. Marshall; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. M. A. Eliott; Hon. Editor, Mr. J. C. Andersen; Hon. Librarian, Professor Sommerville; Hon. Returning Officer, Professor H. W. Seager; Managers of Trust Funds, Mr. M. A. Eliott and Mr. B. C. Aston.

Research Grants Committee.—Professors Chilton (convener), Farr, Speight, Dr. Hilgendorf, and Mr. A. M. Wright re-elected.

Library Committee.—Professors Sommerville, Kirk, Cotton, Dr. Thomson re-elected.

Hector Award Committee.—Sir E. Rutherford, Professors Farr (convener), and Vonwiller.

Hutton Award Committee.—Drs. Marshall, Holloway, and Thomson (convener).

Finance Committee.—Mr. Eliott (convener), Mr. Aston, Hon. G. M. Thomson, Professor Segar, Dr. Thomson, and Mr. A. M. Wright.