Otaijo Institute. 429 



Tenth Meeting. 13/A October, 1885. 



Professor Scott, President, in the chair. 



I 'aper. — " Regarding Evolution the Previous Question of 

 Science," by the Eev. Dr. Macgregor. 



Annual Meeting. lOlh November, 1885. 

 Professor Sc^tt, President, in the Chair. 



Papers. — " Critical List of the Crustacea malacostraca of New 

 Zealand," by G. M. Thomson and C. Chilton. [Transactions, p. 

 141.) 



Professor Parker exhibited some botanical models made by 

 him, also a number of stuffed fishes and prepared skeletons, 

 which were to be sent from the museum to the Colonial and 

 Indian Exhibition, 1886. 



Abstract of Annual Beport. 



Eleven meetings have been held during the session. At four of these 

 original papers were read. 



During the session a resolution has been passed affirming the desira- 

 bility of a re-issue of the phanerogamic portion of the " New Zealand 

 Flora." A resolution has also been adopted on the question of the preser- 

 vation of the tuatara. 



Seven new members have been elected, making the total number 197. 



The receipts of the session, including a balance of £97 8s. 3d. from last 

 year, amount to £216 5s. 3d. The expenses, including £12 paid as a con- 

 tribution of Is. 6d. per member, towards the expenses of the " Transactions," 

 amount to £187 5s., leaving a balance of £29. Os. 3d. The reserve fund in 

 the Post Office Savings Bank is now £193 3s. 8d. 



Election of Office Beakers for 1886. — President — Pro- 

 fessor Parker ; Vice-presidents — Dr. Hockin and Mr. G. M. 

 Thomson; Honorary Secretary — Professor Scott; Honorary 

 Treasurer — Mr. J. C. Thomson ; Council — Alexander Wilson, 

 M.A., Dr. Petne, M.A., D. Colquhoun, M.D., F. E. Chapman, 

 J. De Zouche, M.D., H. Skey ; Auditor— D. Brent, M.A. 



The retiring President delivered an address. 



Abstract. 

 In the course of a general review of the work of the New Zealand 

 Institute during the last seventeen years, he specially dealt with the 

 science of anthropology, pointing out that the ethnological papers in 

 the " Transactions " deal mainly with the Native race — the Maori— and 

 much valuable information is to be found scattered through the volumes. 

 In some respects this is all that could be desired, but some important 

 questions are passed over almost in silence. The numerous papers of 

 Colenso and others tells us much of their habits, history, traditions, and 

 language ; but no one has as yet taken up systematically the subject of 

 Maori anthropometry. Here in the South Island we are placed at a great 

 disadvantage. We have few Maoris, and these have largely intermarried 

 with the white race ; but in the North Island the Maori, though rapidly 

 decreasing, according to almost all authorities, is still numerous, and it is 

 to be hoped that someone will put on record a careful set of observations of 



