Otago InstiUite. 523 



Annual Meeting : 13th November, 188S. 



A. Wilson, M.A., President, in the chair. 



Papers. — 1. "Descriptions of New Zealand Plants," by 

 D. Petrie, M.A. 



2. '• Descriptions of New Species of New Zealand Aranecs," 

 by P. Goyen. 



3. A note by Mr. Goyen on Gasteracantha ocellata, a 

 curious spider found in Norfolk Island, and described by Mr. 

 Urquhart, of Auckland, was communicated by Mr. George 

 M. Thomson. A specimen was also exhibited. 



Professor Parker exhibited and made remarks on a 

 number of New Zealand passerine birds which he had lately 

 had remounted for the Museum. In each case the adult 

 birds, the young, and the nest were mounted on the same 

 twig, so as to bring all the specimens of the same species 

 before the eye at once. 



Professor Parker also exhibited a specimen of Dinornis 

 casuarinus which had been ploughed up at Green Island by 

 Mr. D. Mills. The majority of the bones were present, and 

 evidently all belonged to the same bird, which was quite 

 YOung, the epiphyses of many of the vertebrse not being ossi- 

 iied. 



The annual report and balance-sheet were read and 



adopted. 



Abstract. 



During the session eight general meetings have been held, at which 

 two lectures were delivered, and ten papers were read. 



The meetings have been remarkably well attended, and greatly in- 

 creased interest has been shown by the members. 



During the sitting of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, 

 in Dunedin, the Council organized a conversazione in the University 

 library (kindly lent for the occasion by the Otago University Council) on 

 the 9th jMarch, to which the members of the Senate were invited. 



Early in May the Council brought under the notice of the Marine 

 Department the desirability of making some provision whereby qualified 

 members of the New Zealand Institute might take advantage of the trips 

 of Government steamers to the outlying islands (Kermadec, Chatham, 

 Auckland, Campbell, Macquarie, Antipodes, &c.) for purposes of scientific 

 research. The Council regret that the Government have declined to 

 accede to their request. 



Twenty-one new members, including one life-member, have been 

 added during the year. The number on the roll is now 154, of whom 10 

 are life-members. 



The balance-sheet shows the total receipts for the year, including a 

 balance of £85 Os. 2d. from previous year, to amount to £211 Is. 8d., and 

 the expenditure to £128 4s. 3d., leaving a credit balance of £82 17s. 5d. 

 The sum of £243 4s. Id. is on fixed deposit in the Union Bank. The pre- 

 sent balance of assets over liabilities, exclusive of the library, is £319 7s. 



Election of Officers for 1889. — President — Dr. de 

 Zouche; Vicc-iyreiidents — J. C. Thomson and A. Wilson, M.A. ; 



