New Zealand Institute. 579 



near Wellington aforesaid and the endowment of a professor 

 and staff of an astronomical observatory fitted with telescopes 

 and other suitable instruments for the public use and benefit 

 of the colony, in the hope that such fund may be augmented 

 by gifts from private persons and that the observatory may be 

 subsidised by the Colonial Government." On the 28th February, 

 1905, the interest and principal amounted to £2,309 15s. 4d., 

 and in addition there is certain scrip in the New Zealand Loan 

 and Mercantile at face-value. The money is invested by the 

 Public Trustee, and is earning interest at the rate of 4 per cent. 

 per annum. 



In reply to a resolution passed at the last annual meeting 

 in re binding scientific periodicals in the Institute library, 

 the Colonial Secretary has informed the Institute that the 

 sum of £200 has been appropriated by Parliament for that 

 purpose. 



The Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, Queensland, 

 celebrate the twenty-first anniversary of the foundation of the 

 society in the last week of June, 1906. A cordial invitation is 

 extended by the Council of the Queensland Society to the New 

 Zealand Institute Board of Governors. 



Mr. Henry Suter, of Auckland, asks the Institute to under- 

 take the publication of a new catalogue of Mollusca of New 

 Zealand. 



All these matters will come up for consideration at this 

 meeting. 



Notices of motion dealing with nature-study in public schools 

 and the establishment of a Forestry Board have been received 

 and will need your attention. 



The Library Committee and the Publication Committee 

 present separate reports. 



Martin Chapman, Chairman. 



Statement op the Receipts and Payments op the New 

 Zealand Institute for the Year ended 31st December, 

 1905. 



Receipts. 



Balance from last year 



Government grant 



Contribution from Wellington Philosophical Society 



Sale of " Maori Art " . . ' 



Sale of Transactions . . 



