432 Proceedings. 



An interesting exchange has been received from the Bishop Museum at 

 Honolulu, in the shape of two of the rare kahilis, or wands, elaborately 

 decorated with feather-work. Through the kind co-operation of Mr. 

 W. S. Laurie, of this city, a very acceptable collection of mound-builderti' 

 pottery from the INIississippi Valley has been obtained from Dr. Busline! 1, 

 of St. Louis. There have also been some minor additions, which it is 

 impossible to mention here. In the zoological department the most 

 noteworthy accession has been an almost perfect moa skeleton, pur- 

 chased from Mr. Kingsley, of Nelson. It has a special value from being 

 the type of Captain Hutton's new species, Diiiornis torosus. Two remark- 

 ably good mounted specimens of Echidna a,nd Ornithorhynclius have been 

 presented by Mrs. Calder, of this city; and several rare New Zealand 

 bird skins have been purchased. The want of a resident taxidermist is 

 severely felt. Among the miscellaneous additions special mention is 

 made of a valuable timber exhibit presented by the Leyland O'Brien 

 Timber Company. It consists of a complete section of a kauri-tree 6 fc. 

 in diameter, supporting a framework containing panels of the chief 

 ornamental woods of the colony. It affords an excellent illustration of 

 the value of our timber trees for furniture or decorative woodwork. 



The most noteworthy addition to the library has been a complete set 

 of the publications of the United States Bureau of Ethnology, in sixteen 

 volumes quarto. 



The management of Little Barrier Island as a reserve for the preser- 

 vation of the avifauna of New Zealand still remains in the hands of the 

 Institute, the Government contributing an annual grant of £200 to cover 

 the expenses in connection with it. The Curator, Mr. Shakespear, 

 reports that matters are in a satisfactory condition on the island, and 

 that most of the native birds appear to be increasing in numbers now 

 that they are not in any way molested. A short time ago he detected 

 two men at work on the island gum-digging. He at once turned them 

 off, and reported the occurrence. It is the intention of the Crown Lands 

 Department to proceed against the men as soon as they can be found. 

 With this exception, no attempt has been made to land upon the island, 

 or to interfere with it in any way. 



Election of Officers for 1900. — President — Professor 

 H. W. Segar ; Vice-jjresidents — J. Batger, Px'ofessor H. A. 

 Talbot-Tubbs ; Council — Professor F. D. Brown, C. Cooper, 

 F. G. Ewington, E. A. Mackechnie, P. Marshall, F.G.S., 

 T. Peacock, D. Petrie, F.L.S., J. A. Pond, F.C.S., J. Stewart,. 

 C.E., Professor A. P. Thomas, F.L.S., J. H. Upton; Trustees 

 — E. A. Mackechnie, T. Peacock, J. H. Upton ; Secretary and 

 Curator— T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Auditor— W.. 

 Gorrie. 



