380 Proceedings. 



Membership. — During the year fifteen new members have been elected, and twelve 

 have either resigned or have been struck off, so that the number now stands at 178. 

 The Council regrets to record the loss by death of Messrs. J. D. Enys and J. L. Scott, 

 both of whom have been associated with this Institute for many years. 



Antarctic Expedition. — Having been so intimately associated with Antarctic re- 

 search, the Council learned with grief the sad news of the loss of Captain Scott, Dr. 

 Wilson, and their companions in the sledging party from the South Pole. At a meeting 

 held on t he 1 1 th February the Council placed on record its admiration for the great 

 achievements in Antarctic exploration of Captain Scott and his associates, and con- 

 veyed to the families and relatives of those who had perished its deepest sympathy 

 with them in their sorrow. At the suggestion of the Council, the Mayor of Christchurch 

 convened a general meeting for the purpose of considering the establishment of a suit- 

 able memorial. It is gratifying to note that as a result a large sum of money has now 

 been subscribed, and it is hoped that a memorial suitably commemorating the heroic 

 deeds will shortly be erected. 



British Association Meeting. — The Council desires to call attention to the meeting 

 of the British Association in Australia in 1914, and hopes that a number who have been 

 invited will extend their visit to New Zealand. According to the suggested programme, 

 meetings are to be held in Wellington and ( 'hristchurch early in September. As the 

 visit of these men will naturally stimulate local scientific work, a hearty welcome will 

 be extended by the incoming Council to our visitors. 



Obituary. — The Council feels that through the death of Mr. A. Hamilton, Director 

 of the Dominion Museum and a past President of the New Zealand Institute, the cause 

 of scientific endeavour in this land has lost a valued contributor, especially in the depart- 

 ments of ethnology and New Zealand bibliography. At a meeting on the 5th November 

 the Institute expressed its sorrow and its sense of the loss sustained through his death. 



The Council also notes with deep regret the death of the veteran naturalist Alfred 

 Russel Wallace, O.M., F.R.S., an honorary member of the New Zealand Institute, the 

 co-discoverer with Darwin of the theory of Natural Selection. His researches in the 

 geographical distribution of plants and animals have a special bearing on the problems 

 of the origin of New Zealand Mora and fauna, and have greatly stimulated research on 

 the subject by New Zealand workers. 



Science and Art Bill. — A Bill dealing with the Dominion Museum. Art Gallery, and 

 the New Zealand Institute was introduced into Parliament, and the Council, in con- 

 sidering this Bill, took exception to the clauses referring to the representation of the 

 New Zealand Institute on the Board established under the Bill. The Council also 

 objected strongly to the sections relating to the publication and sale of the Transac- 

 tions. It is noted with satisfaction that the clauses objected to have been deleted from 

 the Bill, while recent information has been received that the sum of £250 has been 

 placed on the estimates for the current year as an additional grant, in order to enable 

 the Institute to publish the Transactions. 



Arthur's Pass Tunnel Investigation. — During the past year the usual temperature 

 observations were continued, and specimens of the rocks have been received for exami- 

 nation, in order to keep the series complete, but owing to the slow progress of the 

 work no special results can yet be recorded. 



Protection of the Fur Seal. — At the instance of the Otago Institute, the Council has 

 written to the Minister of Marine, protesting against the removal of the protection 

 hitherto accorded the fur seal. In addition, the attention of the Minister was called 

 to the fact that the seals have been killed in the Sounds National Park. It is hoped 

 that these representations will result in the renewal of the protection of the fur seals, 

 otherwise this species will soon be quite exterminated. 



Library. — The efficiency of the library has been fully maintained, and the calls 

 upon the available space have necessitated increased shelving being provided. 



Antarctic Library. — The Council has kept the needs of this section well in view, 

 and has purchased to the full extent of its available resources, the publications of the 

 Deutsche Siid-Polar Expedition alone having absorbed a large sum. It is hoped that 

 the publications of the " Belgica " Expedition may !><• obtained in the near future; but 

 these also are expensive productions. 



The Institute is most grateful to the French Government for presenting the publi- 

 cations of the two recent south polar expeditions under Dr. Charcot, and to Dr. Chilton. 

 President of the Institute, for supplying various Antarctic works. 



The Council was pleased to place the library at the disposal of the members of the 

 British Antarctic Expedition under the late Captain Scott, and gratified to know that 

 the privilege extended was largely availed of and appreciated by several members of 

 the ill-fated expedition. 



