Auckland Institute. 431 



Taupo Plains, and its Suitability for the Growth of Grasses," 

 by J. A. Pond, F.C.S., and J. S. Maclaurin, D.Sc. (Trans- 

 actions, p. 227.) 



2. " Maori Origins," by Elsdon Best. {Transactions, 

 p. 294.) 



Annual Meeting : 19th Febniary, 1900. 

 Professor Talbot-Tubbs, Vice-president, in the chair. 



Abstract of Annual Report. 



Five new members have been elected during the year, the total 

 number of members at the present time being 153. 



The Council regret to announce the death of Lieut. -Colonel T. L. 

 Murray, who has been connected with the Institute for more than twenty 

 years, and who during the whole of that period has taken a steady and 

 consistent interest in its afiairs. For the last two years he has served 

 as a member of the Council. 



The total revenue of the working account, excluding the balance of 

 £84 4s. 9d. brought from the previous year, has been £900 18s. 2d. Last 

 year the amount was £899 2s. lOd., very nearly the same sum. Examin- 

 ing the separate items of the balance-sheet, it will be seen that the 

 receipts from the invested funds of the Costley bequest have been £328 5s., 

 against £365 16s. 3d. for 1898-99, the reduction being mainly due to a 

 temporary delay in the payment of interest on one of the investments. 

 The Museum endowment has yielded £444 Is. 4d., the amount for the 

 previous year being £355 ; while the sum received for members' subscrip- 

 tions stands at £118 13s., showing a reduction of £9 9s. The total expen- 

 diture has been £923 16s. lOd., leaving a balance of £61 6s. Id. The 

 Council have no change to report respecting the invested funds of the 

 Institute, the amount being the same as last year — £13,590. 



At the close of the year Mr. Percy Smith resigned his position as one 

 of the trustees of the Institute, after holding it for fifteen years. The 

 Council are anxious to put on record their appreciation of Mr. Smith's 

 long-continued services, and of the careful attention that he has always 

 given to the affairs of the Institute. It is pleasing to know that his name 

 still remains on the roll of the Institute, and, though no longer serving it 

 in an official capacity, he still has the intention of assisting in its work 

 whenever opportunity occurs. 



Nine meetings have been held during the year, at which twelve 

 papers were read. 



The register of the Museum shows that 13,2.30 people entered the 

 building on Sundays, the total for the whole year being 49,082. 



The chief progress made by the Museum has been in the ethno- 

 graphical department. Mr. Elsdon Best, of Ruatahuna, has forwarded a 

 second collection made by him among the Maoris living near Lake Wai- 

 karemoana, which contains several articles not previously represented in 

 the Museum. A beautiful toki-hoJiotqni, or battle-axe, with elaborately 

 carved wooden handle of great age and perfect preservation, has been 

 obtained by purchase, together with several rare bone and greenstone 

 ornaments. During a visit to Rarotonga the Curator collected a series 

 of 132 articles illustrating the ethnology of that island ; and through the 

 kind offices of the Rev. Mr. Cullen, seconded by Colonel Gudgeon, two of 

 the celebrated carved ceremonial axes from Mangaia have been secured. 



