Fourteenth Annual Meeting. 537 



of the destruction of fur seals at the Sounds National Park, and urged the prosecution 

 of the offenders. 



Annual Reports and Balance-sheets of the following incorporated societies have been 

 received, and are now laid on the table : — • 



Auckland Institute, for year ending 22nd February, 1916. 



Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, for year ending 1st December, 1916. 



Manawatu Philosophical Society, for year ending 30th October, 1916. 



Wellington Philosophical Society, for year ending 30th September, 1916. 



Nelson Institute, for year ending 22nd December, 1916. 



Canterbury Philosophical Institute, for year ending 31st October, 1916. 



Otago Institute, for year ending 30th November, 1916. 



Wanganui Philosophical Society, for year 1916. 



On the motion of Dr. Cockayne, the action of the Standing Committee 

 in appointing Mr. W. H. Twelvetrees to the Hutton Award Committee was 

 confirmed. 



On the motion of Dr. Hilgendorf, seconded by Dr. Chilton, it was 

 resolved, That the Standing Committee make arrangements with the 

 Government Printer for the distribution of the copies of the Transactions. 



On the motion of Dr. Chilton, seconded by Professor Marshall, it was 

 resolved, That the resolution of the year 1910 respecting the date of publi- 

 cation of the Transactions be rescinded. 



The regulations regarding the expenditure of grants under the research- 

 grants scheme, which were formulated by the sub-committee consisting of 

 Professor Easterfield, Drs. Cockayne and Allan Thomson, appointed by the 

 Standing Committee, were read and approved. 



Destruction of Fur Seals. — A report from Drs. Cockayne and Thom- 

 son was submitted. On the motion of Mr. J. W. Poynton, seconded by 

 Dr. Chilton, the report was amended and adopted in the following form : — 



That this Institute learns with regret that the declaration of an area as a national 

 park does not prohibit sealing therein, and urges that a special Act be passed denning 

 the limits of an area for a national park including the southern fiord lands and waters, 

 with protection, under severe penalties, of seals and other animals therein, and that a 

 copy of this motion be sent to the Minister of Lands. 



That this Institute learns with regret that the declaration of an area as a sanctuary 

 under the Animals Protection Act does not prevent sealing therein — e.g.. in the Sounds 

 National Park — and urges that the amendment of the law necessary to secure such 

 protection for seals be taken in hand by the Government, and that a copy of this 

 motion be sent to the Minister of Internal Affairs. 



That it is desirable in the interests of the preservation of the seal that sealing 

 should be permanently prohibited in the Sounds National Park and at Cascade Point, 

 Westland, and that the Minister of Marine be requested to take such steps as will 

 ensure this. 



Research Grants.— An account of the apportionment by the Standing 

 Committee of the sums of money to research workers was given by the 

 Honorary Secretary and approved. It was resolved to incorporate the 

 details in the Proceedings of the Institute. 



Incorporated Societies'' Reports.- — -The annual reports of the Auckland 

 Institute, the Wellington Philosophical Society, the Philosophical Institute 

 of Canterbury, the Otago Institute, the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 

 the Manawatu Philosophical Society, the Nelson Institute, and the Wanganui 

 Philosophical Society, for the last year, were received. 



Honorary Treasurer' 's Reports. — The financial statements of the Honorary 

 Treasurer, Mr. C. A. Ewen, comprising those of (a) receipts and expenditure ; 

 (b) assets and liabilities ; (c) the Carter Bequest, the Hutton Memorial 

 Fund, and the Hector Memorial Fund, all of which were duly audited and 

 certified to by the Auditor-General, were adopted. A minute dated the 

 17th January, 1917, from the Hon. the Minister, regarding the Carter Bequest, 

 was referred to the Standing Committee. 



