Philosophical Institute of Canterhunj. 31 



During the month of August a deputation from the Institute waited on the Right 

 Hon. the Premier to ask for monetary assistance in the matter, and as a result of its 

 representations a grant of £200 was made towards the expense of conducting the ex- 

 periments. This was most readily given, and, as a scientific body, this Institute must 

 express its grateful appreciation of the generous spirit with which the present Covern- 

 ment has met its requests for assistance in matters scientific. 



The Institute has also to express its indebtedness to Dr. Heim, of Ziirich, for his 

 valuable help not only by suggesting methods of procedure in taking earth -temperatures, 

 but also by sending copies of his own publications and those of other Swiss geologists 

 who have examined the great Swiss tinniels. 



Librait/ of Antarctic Literature. — The Council has considered the advisability of 

 increasing its library by the addition to it of works of scientific interest dealing nith the 

 Antarctic. It is hoped that this library may be made more and more complete, and may 

 not only be of great assistance to workers here, but that it may even induce naturalists 

 and others to visit this city for the purpose of consulting it. A number of donations 

 towards it have already been received, and the Council has issued a circular letter to the 

 authorities of all the recant South Polar expeditions asking for their assistance in pro- 

 curing their valuable publications. 



Carnegie Observatory. — Seeing that the Carnegie Institute announced its intention 

 of establishing an astronomical observatory in either South America, South Africa, or 

 New Zealand, the Council considered the advisability of bringing the claims of New 

 Zealand more thoroughly before the authorities in Washington. A committee was ap- 

 pointed, with Dr. Farr as secretarj', to consider the best steps for doing so. It was 

 decided to recommend Central Otago as an excellent site, and communications were 

 opened with the Otago Institute asking for their co-operation and support. The 

 eminent suitability of the locality for such an observatory was brought before the 

 Carnegie Institute both directlj' and also through the New Zealand CJovernment. It is 

 understood that it has been decided to establish the observatory in South America, but 

 the Council trusts that its action will serve to bring under the notice of other res]ionsible 

 bodies the special advantages possessed by Central Otago for star-observation, and hopes 

 that the Dominion may not be long without a ]>roperly equipped astronomical obser- 

 vatory. 



Chatham Island-f. — During the year a committee of the Council has considered the 

 ■advisability of sending a scientific party to the Chatham Islands, in order to make col- 

 lections of articles of ethnological interest, as well as specimens of the subfossil bird- 

 remains which were once common there, but which are now becoming extremely scarce. 

 It is important that a collection of these should be made at once, in order to secure for 

 some public institution here as good a collection as possible of the remains of the remark- 

 able avifauna of these isolated islands. The Council recommends that a party be sent 

 down as soon as opportunity offers, and that a contribution be made towards its 

 expen.ses. It is hoped that the Board of Governors of Canterbury College will give 

 assistance, on the understanding that the collections made are deposited in the Canter- 

 bury Museum. 



Protection of Native Fauna. — The attention of the Council has been drawn to the 

 fact that some of the native animals of New Zealand do not receive effective protection. 

 A committee was set up to consider the best way in which the matter might be brought 

 under the notice of the Government, and to suggest alterations in the law which the 

 necessities of the case demand. It was decided to draw the attention of the ]\Iinister of 

 the Interior to the fact that neither the kaka nor the tuatara is protected, although the 

 -export of sjiecimens of the latter is forbidden. The Council feels that it is highly im- 

 portant that our unique fauna should be preserved by every means in our power. 



These are the principal matters which have occupiecl the attention of the Council 

 during the year. In all it has held sixteen meetings, at which the average attendance 

 has been eight ; but it has been found advantageous to refer matters to small sub-com- 

 mittees for thorough consideration, and meetings of these have been extremely numerous 

 throughout the year. 



Lit)rary. — During the past year considerable attention was devoted to the library. 

 The committee .set up at the last annual meeting met four times, and reported its pro- 

 ceedings to the Council. 



Special effort was made to perfect sets of ]iublications, and many long-existing gaps 

 were filled. Except in the case of one journal, reported to the Council, the binding has 

 been kejit up to date. 



A number of presentations were made by members, and many works dealing with 

 subjects within the scope of the Institute were purchased. Especially may be mentioned 

 a copy of Rothschild's " Extinct Birds." A special subscription fund was opened for 

 the purchase of this expensive book, and, being liberally .^^upported, the work was 

 obtained without cost to the Institute. 



