New Zealand Institute. 547 



ThefiPresidcnt referred to the death of SirJ^James Hector, 

 and moved the following resolution, which was seconded hy Mr. 

 Stewart, and carried unanimously, the members standing : 

 " That the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute 

 desires to express its profound regret at the great loss sustained 

 by the scientific world through the death of the late President. 

 Sir James Hector. By his own researches in geology, zoology, 

 and botany in the Dominion of New Zealand he added greatly 

 to the knowledge of those branches of science ; as head of the 

 Geological Survey, of the Meteorological Department, and of 

 the Colonial Laboratory, and as Director of the Colonial Museum, 

 he was the scientific adviser of successive Governments for a 

 long period of years ; while as Chancellor of the New Zealand 

 University he was closely associated with the highest education 

 of the Dominion. The Board wishes to express its high appre- 

 ciation of these eminent services to science, especially in New 

 Zealand. That a copy of this resolution be sent to Lady Hector." 



The annual report and annual statement of receipts and 

 expenditure were read and adopted. 



Mr. Hamilton moved, and Dr. Farr seconded, " That the 

 matter of obtaining 4J per cent, instead of 4 per cent, for money 

 deposited with the Public Trustee in the Carter bequest be 

 remitted to the Treasurer." Carried. 



Librarian's Report. — The Librarian's report, as follows, was 

 read and adopted : — 



The Honorary Librarian reports that the number of pieces received 

 during the year as exchanges and presentations number 737. Large 

 numbers of duplicates which remained after Mr. Ross had picked out 

 the most complete set for binding have been sorted and arranged under 

 their respective countries. 



There is still a very large number of publications in languages other 

 than English not sorted or arranged. 



A great deal of binding is still necessary, and modern book-cases 

 arranged in bays would be much more useful than the present system 

 of shelving. 



Very little use has been made of the library, the number of entries 

 by those taking books being only seventy-eight. 



No progress has been made with the card catalogue. 



Carter Library. — None of the books reported last year as missing 

 have been recovered. 



The storage of the stock of the Transactions must be seen to, as there 

 are now in the Museum building three years' accumulations to be trans- 

 ferred to the cellar of the Parliamentary Buildings. A steel embossed 

 stamp has been provided, and will be used in future for the books, as being 

 much superior to the old rubber stamp, and it is suggested that when the 

 ownership question is determined a book-plate shall be pasted in each 

 volume. 



One of the Museum rooms has been set aside temporarily for the 

 papers, &c, of the New Zealand Institute, and the parcels of the original 

 papers for the whole of the thirty-nine vears have been collected and 

 freshly tied up. 



