Auckland Institute. 679 



and pointed out that the island was being gradually rendered less suitable 

 for the preservation of the New Zealand fauna. At the annual meeting a 

 resolution was passed requesting the Council to urge the Government to 

 complete the purchase ; and, in response to this, a deputation of the whole 

 Council waited on the Premier, fully explaining the position of affairs, 

 and the necessity for immediate action. The Premier expressed himself 

 as being anxious and willing to expedite the purchase, and engaged that 

 if the native owners continued to refuse reasonable terms a Bill would 

 be introduced into Parliament providing for the compulsory purchase of 

 the island at a fair valuation. This has since been done, and it is now 

 stated that the Native Land Court has fixed the amount payable to the 

 owners. Probably no long period will elapse before the Government will 

 be the sole owner of the island. If so, the Council trust that no time will 

 then be lost in removing the few Maoris still resident on the island, and 

 in furnishing the caretaker with full powers to prevent unauthorized 

 persons from landing. 



Election of Officees for 1895. — President — Professor 

 A. P. Thomas, F.L.S. ; Vice-president— J. H. Upton; Coun- 

 cil— Rev. J. Bates, W. Berry, Professor F. D. Brown, F.C.8., 

 E. A. Mackechnie, G. Mueller, T. Peacock, J. A. Pond, 

 T. H. Smith, J. Stewart, O.E., Professor H. A. Tubbs, 

 E. Withy; Trustees— E. A. Mackechnie, S. P. Smith, F.E.G.S., 

 T. Peacock ; Secretary and Treasurer — T. F. Cheeseman, 

 F.L.S., F.Z.S.; Auditor— W. Gorrie. 



