588 Proceedings. 



from the library, for during the present session one or two books have 

 been taken away without this notification and have not been returned. 

 It is in this way that books are liable to be lost. In view of the continued 

 additions to the number of volumes, your Council have increased the sum 

 for which the library is insured to the amount of £1,000. The yearly 

 volume of the Transactions arrived on the 24th October, and was dis- 

 tributed to members as soon as possible. 



At the beginning of the session a committee of your Council was 

 appointed to revise the rules and constitution of the Institute, in order to 

 bring them into agreement with the various changes effected by resolu- 

 tions passed by the members from time to time since 1876, when the 

 rules were last printed. The revised edition was issued to members in 

 April of this year. A resolution was adopted that the Institute should 

 be incorporated under " The Unclassified Societies Act, 1895." This 

 matter will be carried out forthwith. 



The fish-hatchery has received a good deal of attention since the last 

 annual meeting. During the recess a deputation of your Council waited 

 on the Minister of Marine, who was passing through Dunedin, in order 

 to urge upon him the importance of proceeding with the matter at the 

 earliest opportunity, and the desirability of appointing a board of man- 

 agement at once. The Minister stated that he considered the matter 

 as practically settled, and your Council indulged in the hope that they 

 might see the building commenced ere the year was out. The lease of 

 the necessary land was drawn up, plans and estimates of the buildings 

 were made, and the Inspector of Fisheries, together with representatives 

 of the Acclimatisation Society and of your Council, visited the proposed 

 site, marked out the position of the tanks, laboratory, house, &c, the 

 Government surveyor received instructions to make a detailed survey 

 and plans, and all looked most promising. But since that date nothing 

 further has been heard of the matter, nor has any board of management 

 been appointed, without which it will be impossible to proceed. 



The Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, conjointly with this and 

 other institutes, is engaged in compiling an " Index Faunse Novse-Zea- 

 landise," of which they hope to persuade the Governors of the New Zea- 

 land Institute to undertake the cost of publication. 



Your Council desire to express their sympathy with Mr. Hamilton 

 and with the publishers of " Maori Art " on the unfortunate accident that 

 has delayed the issue of the final part. Not only were nearly all the 

 copies of Part V. when just completed and ready for issue destroyed by 

 fire, but the blocks used for the illustrations of that part and the embos- 

 sing of the binding-covers suffered the same fate. It is satisfactory to 

 learn that the loss was covered by insurance, and that the reproduction 

 has now been prepared and will be shortly issued. 



The balance-sheet showed the receipts from all sources during the 

 year to be £535 18s. (including £400 on deposit and a balance of 

 £16 0s. 6d. brought forward from last year). The balance on the year's 

 expenditure amounted to £29 lis. 



Election of Officers for 1902. — President — Professor 

 Benham ; Vice-presidents — F. R. Chapman and C. W. 

 Chamberlain ; Hon. Secretary — G. M. Thomson ; lion. 

 Treasurer — W. Fels ; Council — Professor Park, Dr. Hocken, 

 Dr. Colquhoun, Dr. Marshall, A. Hamilton, T. D. Pearce, 

 and A. Bathgate ; Auditor — D. Brent. 



The President then gave an interesting address on the sur- 

 roundings of the City of Dunedin. On its conclusion he 

 vacated the chair in favour of Dr. Benham. 



