94 Proceedings. 



The application for increased accommodation for the Museum, mentioned in last 

 year's report, has been successful, and the Borough Council has very generously 

 granted to the Society the use of the whole of the upper floor of the old Fire Brigade 

 Building, has made necessary alterations therein, and put the whole in a state of 

 thorough repair. Your Council has spent about £60 in providing the additional 

 furniture required in the new building. All the collections have now been removed 

 to the new building, and arranged and classified by Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of 

 the Dominion Museum. The Society is deeply indebted to him for his very valuable 

 help, to the borough authorities for the liberality with which they have met the 

 wishes of the Council, and to the Curator, Mr. Hirtzel, for the great amount of 

 care, time, and energy which he has given to the work of removal. 



The Council specially desires to make the Museum illustrative of local products 

 and industries, and with a view thereto has obtained a collection of New Zealand 

 timber from Mr. Pegden and Messrs. Lewis and Kuhtze, with the promise of an 

 exhibit showing all the processes of the flax industry from the Flax -millers' Associa- 

 tion, one of wools from Messrs. Mellsop and Eliott, of New Zealand grasses from 

 Mr. T. W. Kirk, F.L.S., and of grains and seeds from Messrs. Barraud and Abraham 

 and Mr. Baylis of the Department of Agriculture. When all these are in place the 

 collection will be one of which, considering its youth, neither the Society nor the 

 town need be ashamed. 



The balance-sheet shows that the receipts for the year amounted to £44 9s. Id., 

 and the expenditure £110 4s. 9d. The assets are valued at £523 14s. 10d., while 

 the liabilities stand at £66 0s. 2d., leaving a balance in favour of the Society of 

 £455 14s. 8d. 



Election of Officers for 1912. — President — Mr. R. Gardner; Vice- 

 Presidents — Messrs. J. L. Barnicoat and E. J. Armstrong, C.E.; Secre- 

 tary and Treasurer — Mr. K. Wilson, M.A.; Officer in Charge of the 

 Observatory — Captain Hewitt, R.N.; Council — Messrs. W. E. Bendall, 

 W. F. Durward, M. A. Eliott, F. Foote, B.Sc, R. McNab, and J. E. 

 Vernon, M.A. : Auditor — Mr. J. Mitchell. 



