Otago Institute. 25 



been deleted from our roll — from removals, resignations, and other causes — the total has 

 not materially iiicreased, and stands now at 118. 



It is a matter for regret that more of our members do not take an active part in the 

 business of the meetings. They might, if they would do so, render them more varied in 

 character, and possibly more attractive to those who are not keenly interested in science, 

 if they would read papers or give addresses on subjects., literary or otherwise, in which 

 they are themselves interested. 



The Council desires to thank those ladies who have been kind enough to provide 

 refreshment at the meetings. In addition to the President's address., three other ad- 

 dresses have been given — viz. , bj' Mr. Bathgate, Dr. Marshall, and Mr. Trimble ; while 

 ten scientific papers have been presented for publication. 



Your Council was fortunate in persuading Mr. Grave to repeat his lecture., and the 

 hire of a hall for thai occasion was fully justified by the large audience which attended, 

 in spite of various other attractions on tiiat evening, and especially satisfactorj^ was it 

 to find so many non-membors willing to pay for admission. 



The following books have been purchased for the library : " Anthropological Ex- 

 pedition to Torres Strait," McNab's '" Historical Eecords of New Zealand," Wingate's 

 "" Prelimiuary List of Durham Diptera." Sherborn's "Index Animalium," Le Bon's 

 '■ Evolution of Force*," ]\[ackower's " Radio-active Substances." The following have 

 been presented: Hutton's "The Lesson of Evolution" (presented by Mrs. Hutton), 

 '■ The National Antarctic Expedition" (5 vols., yiresented by the Trustees of the British 

 Museum and by the Council of the Royal Society),, Bulletins of the Dominion Museum 

 and of the Geological Sm'vey of New Zealand., reports of various Government Depart- 

 ments. The usual scientific periodicals have been subscribed for, and a lafge number of 

 reports of Government Departments, pamphlets, and books have been boinid. 



Balance-sheet. — The balance-sheet, presented by the Treasurer (Mr. J. C. 

 Thomson), showed a credit balance of £54 9s. lid. 



The report and balance-sheet were adopted without discussion. 



The income, including balance at the bank brought forward, was 

 £104 18s. ; the expenditure, including £34 6s. in connection with the 

 library, amounted to £66 17s. 8d. 



Election of Officers for 1909. — President — Professor Park ; Vice- 

 Presidents — Dr. Hocken and Mr. D. B. Waters ; Secretary — Dr. Benham 

 {re-elected) ; Treasurer — Mr. J. C. Thomson (re-elected) ; Auditor — Mr. D. 

 Brent (re-elected) ; Council— Dy. Marshall, Mr. G. M. Thomson, Dr. Fulton, 

 Mr. E. J. Parr, Mr. W. Eels, Dr. Malcolm, and Dr. Fitchett. 



On the motion of Dr. Benham, it was decided to hold the annual meeting 

 in future in December instead of November. 



Also resolved that the President and Treasurer be empowered to sign 

 cheques on behalf of the Institute. 



Eighth Meeting : ^th December, 1908. 



The President, Dr. Hocken, in the chair. 



The Chairman referred to the election of Mr. G. M. Thomson to Parliament 

 as a hopeful sign that better men were coming forward as representatives of 

 the people, and expressed gratification that Dr. Marshall had been elevated 

 to the rank of Professor of Geology. 



Exhibit. — By the Curator of the Museum : An ancient flint-lock pistol, 

 with a remarkably thick barrel-wall. 



Dr. Fulton briefly referred to the nesting habits of the harrier and the 

 sparrow-hawk. 



He showed 'photographs in illustration, one of which showed the harrier's nest 

 with an egg and young ones at three different stages of growth, a ])henomenon which 



