10 ■ Proceedings. 



visor and the Chief Draughtsman. The chief of these were embodied in a memorandum 

 for authors of papers sent out by me to the Secretaries of the afifiUated societies. It is 

 hoped that attention will be paid to the details therein specified, as both time and money 

 will be saved thereby. 



In accordance with the resolution of the last annual meeting, that the 41st volume 

 be the first of a new series, the Publications Committee has gone carefully into the matter, 

 and has come to the conclusions — (1) That the new series should be issued in royal 8vo. 

 size ; and (2) that both Transactions and Proceedings should be of the same size. In 

 the case of any large monographs which it is considered desirable to issue separately, 

 it is recommended that they be printed of tlie same size as the " Bulletin of the Geo- 

 logical Survey." (.^^ ^^ Thomson, Editor. 



Mr. Thomson moved, and Mr. Chapman seconded, " That the report of 

 the Editor and Publications Committee be received." Carried. 



Professor Benham moved, and Mr. Speight seconded, " That in future 

 the volumes of the Transactions be published in royal 8vo. size." Carried. 



The Hon. Librarian's report was then read, as follows : — 



The Honorary Librarian reports that the number of pieces received during the 

 year as exchanges and presentations amounts to 923. 



No binding has been done during the year, and I desire to point out that there is 

 still a large amount of binding that rec[uires attention. As mentioned in my last report, 

 the present arrangement of the books is perhaps the most inconvenient that could be 

 suggested, and it would be a great improvement if a sum of money could be provided 

 for modern iron bookcases, to be arranged in bays. 



I have again to report that very little use has been made of the library, the number 

 of entries made by those taking out books being only forty-six, the majority of these 

 being periodicals and magazines taken out by members of the local society ; in fact, a 

 large number of the books have been taken out by a person who is not a member of the 

 Institute, but who has permission to use the library. I think to a large extent the fact 

 that the library is not much used is owing to the comparative inaccessibility of the 

 books. 



No progress has been made with regard to the card catalogue, as no funds are avail- 

 able at present for an assistant. 



The stock of Transactions accumulated during the last three years has been trans- 

 ferred to the cellars of the Parliamentary Library. 



I have had a typewritten catalogue prepared of the books belonging to the Philo- 

 sophical Society. You will have before you a communication from the Mines Depart- 

 ment relating to the geological works now in the collection. 



A separate stamp has been prepared for the books belonging to the Dominion Museum, 

 and for the future a separate binding of brown buckram will be used for the Museum 

 books. 



A set of pigeon-holes has been provided for the better keeping of the current parts 

 of the various works, and I also had an estimate prepared for a series of shelves and 

 pigeon-holes for the whole of the parts which are received from time to time. The cost, 

 however, was about £60. If funds can be found for this purpose, it would probably 

 insure the better custody of the parts which arrive frora time to time. 



Re exchanges : I have written to the members of the Committee of the Exchanges, 

 and have communications from them on this matter. I have, however, been unable 

 as yet to draft a report, as a number of matters have to be gone into first, which cannot 

 conveniently be proceeded with until the alterations in the library now contemplated 

 are decided on. 



I think it is desirable that a small vote should be made for the purpose of carrying 

 on a certain amount of card cataloguing and classification. I propose to ask the Stand- 

 ing Committee to authorise the expenditure of a small amount on further work on the 

 catalogue. ^ Hamilton, Librarian. 



Mr. Hamilton moved, and Mr. Chapman seconded, " That the Librarian's 

 report be received." Carried. 



Mr. A. Hamilton moved, and Professor Benham seconded, " That as soon 

 as possible in each year complete copies of the Transactions shall be, in 

 accordance with the Act, presented to Parliament, and that all other copies 



