WelUiigtou PhUosopliical S()clcti/. ;"3y7 



Since the last annual meeting three prominent members had been 

 removed by death — namely, Messrs. J. C. Crawford, J. Burne, and J. H. 

 ■George — and this the Council recorded with regret. About eighty new 

 ' works had been added to the library during the year, either by presenta- 

 tion or purchase. Referring to the donation to the New Zealand Institute 

 by ^Ir. C. R. Carter of a valuable" library of works on New Zealand, 

 the Council considered the gift was a matter for congratulation to the 

 Society in its capacity as an integral part of the Institute. Mr. Carter 

 had for many years been a liberal benefactor to the Colonial Museum, 

 and his present gift of books was only one of a scries of public benetits. 

 The Council did not think they would be stepping outside their sphere 

 in recommending that the Society should pass a cordial vote of thanks to 

 Mr. Carter for his generous donation. The library, with the addition of 

 this collection, numbered some 4,000 volumes. Mr. A. do 15. Brandon had 

 been nominated as the Society's representative to the New Zealand 

 Institute. 



The balance-sheet showed that tlie year's r'^cinpts amounted to 

 £161 17s. (including the balance from last vca,r), and the expenditure was 

 £158 13s. (3d. 



Mr. W. M. MaskcU moved, in accordance with the recommendation 

 of the report, " That, as one of the societies affiliated to the New Zealand 

 Institute, we record our full appreciation of the liberal donation by Mr. 

 C.R.Carter to the Institute of a collection of books relating to New- 

 Zealand, and convey to him our cordial thanks for the same." The mover 

 said he understood the collection was a unique one, containing the very 

 fullest informatioji regarding New Zealand from the earliest time to the 

 present day. In making such a handsome gift ;Mr. Carter had conferred 

 a great benefit upon the whole colony. 



Sir James Hector, in seconding the motion, nunitioned that the 

 Oovernors of the New Zealand Institute had already taken steps to have 

 ]Mr. Carter's gift placed for the convenience of the public, and access to it 

 would be allowed to those who were studying or engaged in the compila- 

 tion of other works. He considered Mr. Carter was deserving of the 

 thanks of the community for his action. 



Mr. Travers thought that as a preventive against destruction the 

 works now in the library should be placed by the Governors in a suitable 

 building, which could be erected at a cost of a few hundred pounds. The 

 Government should be asked to assist in tliis inattcr. 



The motion was carried. 



Election of OFFicE-BK.vuEiis fou iSVJO. — President — 

 O. Hulke; Vice-presidents — A. McKay, E. Tregear ; Council — 

 W. T. L. Travei-s, H. P. Higginson, Hon. Robert Pharazvii, 

 W. M. Maskell, Sir J. Hector, A. de B. Brandon, E. D. Bell : 

 Secretarii and Treasurer — R. B. Gore ; Auditor— T. King. 



Mr. Hulke, the newly-elected President, took the chair at this stage 

 •of the proceedings, and on the motion of Mr. Travers a vote of thanks 

 was passed to the retiring President, who returned thanks for the compli- 

 ment. 



Mr. Hiilke briefly addressed the members, approving of the forma- 

 tion of the Field Naturalists' Club, founded by Sir James Hector. He 

 hoped to see a series of lectures upon such subjects as electricity, gold- 

 as.saying, &g., delivered during the year under the auspices of the Society, 

 and said it was his intention to try and get gentlemen to undertake the 

 task. 



