472 Proceedings. 



it was being nullified by the effects of the sheep. One course was to clear out the sheep 

 altogether and extinguish the Native titles, and another would be to stock only that 

 part of the island which has been cleared. The general request which the Institute 

 wished to make was that it should be recognized by the Government in all matters 

 dealing with sanctuaries. 



"The Hon. Mr. Guthrie said that, so far as his Department was concerned, the 

 assistance of the Institute would have the fullest consideration. AjDj^arently it was 

 feared that the sheep would interfere with the native fauna. If at any time it were 

 decided to use the whole of the island as a sanctuary, it would be easy to remove the 

 sheep. He thought, however, that the matter was more in the province of the Hon 

 the Minister of Internal Affairs. 



" Dr. Allan Thomson jDointed out that the only legislation dealing with the matter 

 was embodied in the Scenery Preservation Act, which was administered by the Lands 

 Department. The bird-life of the Dominion had been suffering through divided control, 

 and, as a result of a conference held a few years ago, Mr. Phillips Turner and himself 

 ■nere appointed to act as a committee to advise their separate Departments. 



" Professor Kirk asked if the Minister would agree to api:)oint a representative of 

 the Institute to the committee with Dr. Thomson and Mr. Turner. 



" Hon. Mr. Guthrie said that he would have to consult the Minister of Internal 

 Affairs. He thanked the deputation for coming to see him on the matter, and added 

 that if at any time the Institute should desire to make definite recommendations on 

 any points connected with the sanctuaries he would be pleased to receive them." 



The Hon. the Minister of Lands (Mr. Guthrie), under date of 23rd December, 1919, 

 has written asking the Institute to nominate a representative to act on the committee 

 which he projioses to set up to advise the Government on Kapiti Island. 



Donation of Partial Set of " Transactions.'" — In addition to those institutions to 

 which the Standing Committee has donated sets of Transactions, a partial set has this 

 year been donated to the Tauranga High School. , 



Resohdions of the Institute. — Recognizing the desirability of arranging and publish- 

 ing the regulations and resolutions of the Institute in such a manner that they can be 

 referred to easily, the Standing Committee has ajjpointed a sub-committee to deal with 

 the matter. It is desirable that the regulations should be brought up to date, and any 

 resolutions which have the force of regulations should be gazetted. It will be necessary 

 to amend the research -grant regulations to accord with the conditions laid down by the 

 Hon. the Minister on page 536, volume 49. The amendments to the regulations passed 

 in recent years should be incorporated in the general regulations and reprinted in 

 volume 52. 



The Library is still in an unsatisfactory state, and the Hon. Librarian has been 

 authorized to formulate and enforce certain rules to be followed by those using the 

 library. 



Catalogue of Fishes. — A matter which has been before the Institute year after year 

 is the compilation of a catalogue of the fishes of New Zealand. The Government has 

 now requested the Institute to submit an estimate of the cost, and the Standing Com- 

 mittee has appointed the Hon. G. M. Thomson and Dr. J. Allan Thomson a sub-committee 

 to compile the estimate. 



Protection of the Fauna. — With regard to the protection of native birds, it was 

 resolved to ask the Hon. the Minister of Internal Affairs for an opportunity of seeing 

 the proposals of the Government, with a view to rendering the fullest assistance in the 

 matter before the jDroposals are laid before Pa^hament. The Department of Internal 

 Affairs, in reply (11th March, 1919), promised to submit a copy of the Animals Protection 

 Bill to the New Zealand Institute for any remarks that the Board might wish to make. 

 The resolutions passed at the last annual meeting regarding the fauna of Macquarie 

 Island have been sent to the Royal Society of Tasmania and to the Premier of that State. 



The New Zealand Institute has now received a letter, dated 29th November, 1919, 

 from the Secretary of the Royal Society of Tasmania, stating that at a recent con- 

 ference in Brisbane a resolution was passed asking the Government to declare the 

 island a sanctuary. The letter also stated that there was now a movement afoot to 

 obtain a renewal of Mr. Hatch's lease, which had been cancelled by the Tasmanian 

 Government. It was suggested that New Zealand societies might write to the Premier 

 of Tasmania supporting the jjroposal for a sanctuary at Macquarie Island. 



The incorporated societies of the New Zealand Institute have been circularized 

 with regard to the Tasmanian society's request, in order that they may contribute 

 support to the movement. 



