Auckland Institute. 121 



The plaster casts from the antique exhibited in the stattie hall have long been in 

 want of re)iairs and oarefid cleaning, and it is consequently satisfactory to announce 

 that the whole collection has been ]nit in proper order and carefully ))ainted in distemper, 

 the work being mainly carried o\it by .Mr. (iriffin. The walls of the room have also been 

 retinted, and a barrier erected to ])revent the handling of the statues by visitors. 



Library. — Two consignments of books, numbering about 130 \olumes, have been 

 received from the Society's London agents, and a third, containing over fifty volumes, 

 is now on its way. In addition to the above, 104 volumes of serials have been bound 

 during the year and placed in the library. The usual exchanges and presentations 

 from foieign societies have also been received, together with some donations from 

 j)rivate individuals. The scientific magazines and publications of societies sul)scribed 

 to by tiie Institute have been regularly received, and made available for the use of 

 members. 



The increasing size and importance of the library have induced several members to 

 suggest that the time has arrived for the preparation of a printed catalogue. As the 

 cost of this is evidently beyond the unaided means of the Institute, it was decided to 

 forward a ciioidar to the members, with a view of ascertaining what numljer woidd be 

 jirepared to purchase copies. The response hardly equalled the anticipations of the 

 jjibrary Committee, but that body has recommended to the Council that the work 

 should be jiroceeded with. 



The Couucij liave had under tlieir consideration an im))ortant coramunicatioii from 

 the Board of < Jovernors of the New Zealand Institute, in which the whole sul)ject of 

 the future develo])ment of the libraries of the incorjiorated societies was raised. The 

 Board suggested that the whole of the libraries should be treated as a joint library, 

 which any member of the New Zealand Institute coidd use, wherever he might reside. 

 It also advocated the prejiaration of a joint card catalogue, with copies for each incor- 

 porated society ; and finally recommended that the incorporated societies, instead of 

 each attem))ting the formation of a general scientific libr;try. shoidd select s]iecial sub- 

 jects, confining their efforts mainly to the purchase of books relating to these subjects. 

 After fuU consideration, the Council, while favourable to the idea of the general use of 

 the whole of the libraries by any member, subject to jiroper regulations, were unable 

 to agree with the pro])Osed specialisation of the libiaries. or with the suggested expendi- 

 ture on a joint card catalogue. 



In conclutling the lejjort, the Comicil have to thank the members for the assistance 

 and encouragement they have given towards fuithering the objects of the Institute. 

 While congratuLiting the members on the steady progi'ess of the society, and the evi- 

 dent interest taken in its work by the ])eo])le of Auckland, it is im])ossible to lose sight 

 of the fact that the increasing growth of the institution in itself imjJies new duties and 

 responsibilities and fuitlier calls on its slender revenue. The Council trust that members 

 generally will interest themsehes in the direction of securing additional subscribers, or 

 in adding to the Museum or librarj% or in any other way that may seem advisable. 



Election of Offk^ers for 1910. — President — R. Brifiault, M.B. ; 

 Vice-presidents — Professor C. W. Egerton, M.A., E. V. Miller ; Council — 

 L. J. Bagnall. Professor F. D. Brown, M.A., T. Peacock, D. Petrie, M.A., 

 J. A. Pond, F.C.S., J. Reid, E. Robertson, M.D., Professor H. W. Segar, 

 M.A., J. Stewart, C.E., Professor A. P. W. Thomas, M.A., J. H. Upton ; 

 Secretary and Treasurer— T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S. ; Auditor — 

 W. Gorrie. 



2 — Proceedings. 



