Netv Zealand Institute. 631 



The funds at the disposal of the Board of Governors of the 

 Institute have consisted only of the annual grant by Parliament 

 of £500, ail annual contribution from the Wellington Philo- 

 sophical Society as an equivalent for rent of the library-room 

 and the use of the lecture-hall, and a small sum arising 

 from the sale of volumes. Nearly the whole of the funds are 

 spent in the printing of the volume of "Transactions," only 

 a very small amount being devoted to the maintenance of the 

 library in the way of binding books. Nor is the information 

 contained in these volumes confined to the colony, as they are 

 widely distributed to the chief libraries in all parts of the 

 world. 



Forty-seven of the most distinguished men in science and 

 literature, who have rendered special service to New Zealand, 

 have been elected honorary members, while there are seventy- 

 five corresponding societies and institutions that exchange 

 their publications with the Institute. About 300 volumes per 

 annum are acquired in this manner, a great number of which 

 are placed in the General Assembly library. 



The Board, having in view the publication of certain import- 

 ant memoirs relative to the natural history' of New Zealand, 

 the production of which will require a larger expenditure for 

 proper illustrations than can be fairly charged to the annual 

 income, have succeeded in saving up a small sum every year 

 for the purpose of meeting this charge without interfering 

 with the publication of the current work. 



If the vote of Parliament is reduced to an amount that will 

 not cover such curren t expense, the Board will find it neces- 

 sary either to reduce the size of the volume by rejecting 

 papers, or to make a call on the societies, which will give 

 great dissatisfaction, as it will draw on funds that are at 

 present locally applied in a most useful manner. 



Considering the success of the Institute, and the great 

 influence it has exercised in giving New Zealand a prominent 

 name among scientific workers in all parts of the world, it 

 might be injurious to the colony if the work of the Institute 

 were seriously crippled. 



Under these circumstances, the Board earnestly trust that 

 the full amount of £500 will be voted as hitherto. 



James Hector, 



Manager. 

 Wellington, 24th July, 1893. 



