672 Proceedings. 



the Council urged Sir E. Stout, then Prenaier of the colony, to purchase 

 the island from the native owners without delay. Since then tlie Insti- 

 tute has brought the matter under the notice of successive Governments 

 and before the Australasian Association. Public opinion has been ex- 

 pressed in favour of the proposal in an unmistakable manner, and of 

 late years it has been warmly supported by Lord Onslow and Sir W. L. 

 Buller. But the negotiations for the purchase of the island are still in- 

 complete ; and several of the native owners have yet to be dealt with. In 

 the meantime several natives and Europeans are living on the island. 

 Fires have been allowed to spread, and in the last week of January of 

 this year a serious one was reported, which lasted at least a week. By 

 degrees the island is being rendered less suitable for the purpose of a 

 preserve. But in addition to this the island has been visited by collectors, 

 and specimens of the very birds which it was hoped might survive have 

 been shot and brought to Auckland. The Council much regret the con- 

 tinuance of this state of affairs. No time ought to be lost in completing 

 the purchase; all residents should be removed, and the caretaker should 

 be armed with full powers to j)revent unauthorised persons from landing 

 on the island. 



Election of Officers foe 1894. — President — J. H. 

 Upton; Vice-president — Professor F. D. Brown; Council — 

 Eev. J. Bates, W. Berry, C. Cooper, G. Mueller, E. A. 

 Mackechnie, T. Peacock, Eev. A. G. Purchas, E. Eoberton, 

 M.D., T. H. Smith, J. Stewart, C.E., E. Withy; Secretanj 

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

 W. Gorrie. 



On the motion of Bishop Cowie, it was unanimously re- 

 solved, "That this meeting views with regret the delay that 

 has taken place in securing the Little Barrier Island for the 

 purpose of preserving some of the rarer birds of New Zealand, 

 and would respectfully urge upon the Government the desira- 

 bility of bringing the purchase of the island to an early con- 

 clusion ; and further requests the Council of the Institute to 

 bring this resolution under the notice of the Government." 



