Eighth Aiumal MeetiiKj. 75 



It is pleasing to iiic to he at tlie iureption ot lliese t'uiuls and tu luivr a small 

 part in the eonmiencenient of their work. Apart fiom woithily conimenKjrating the 

 I'liends whom we have lost and keeping their niemoiy alive, there is satisfaetion 

 in knowing that at last we have some funds (which are, however, l)ut small) which 

 n>ay be devoted to the advancement of research and of assistance to those engaged 

 in research. Although we cannot yet compare with scientific institutions in other 

 countries, still we have a beginning, and in these matters an actual start is a matter 

 of importance. With careful administration the lesults ()l)tain(>d freciuently lead 

 to the establishment of other funds, and matters then progress much more easily. 

 In Australia it is to the munificence of private individuals that science has fellow- 

 ships which may be awarded for I'esearch work in connection with societies. The 

 value of these fellowships is (]uite considerable, and they are found to be useful 

 and productive of good work. 



We have this year seen another well-equipped .Vntaictic expedition leave these 

 shores under the command of Captain Scott. On behalf of the Institute. I wished 

 Captain Scott success and a safe return. 



In Sydney at a recent meeting of the Australasian .\ssociation for the Advance- 

 ment of Science I had the pleasure of attemling an enthusiastic meeting of the 

 General Council, when a sum of £1,000 was voted from the funds of the associa- 

 tion towards purely Australasian explorations, which have been organized for the 

 purpose of aJitarctic research under the leadership of Dr. Mawson. New Zealand 

 is not within the political bounds of the Commonwealth of Australia, but neverthe- 

 less we must feel as a scientific body deep interest in any scientifii' work within 

 the Antarctic area, and I think perhaps more especially in l)i'. .Mawson's expedi- 

 tion, as they intend exploring, if po.ssible, a particular part of the southern con- 

 tinent within which the meteorological observations that will be made will be of 

 the greatest possible interest to New Zealand and the shipping of the surrounding 

 waters. The commercial advantages which are hoped for may or may not be 

 realized, Imt the scientific data in meteorology will certainly l)e of interest and 

 value. It is therefore, I think, right and pi'oper that at this our meeting we 

 should send t(j Dr. .Mawson our best wishes for his success and safe return of his 

 ♦expedition. 



At the Australasian meeting several matters of interest to New Zealand were 

 dealt with, and several recommendations were passed by the committee which are 

 of interest to scientists in New Zealand. One of them relates to the desirability 

 of the New Zealand CTOvernment taking steps to arrange for the description of 

 the New Zealand fossils i-ollected by the New Zealand geological surveys. This 

 resolution also refers to a previous one which had been communicated to the New 

 Zealand Coveinment during the Dunedin meeting. It recognized that certain steps 

 had been taken to prepare the mass of fossils for description, and hoped that the 

 further and more important step would be taken of having them properly described 

 and published. 



It is with considerable satisfaction that I notice that the Animals Protection 

 Act has been so altered by the last Parliament as to tleclare all indigenous birds 

 protected. This is a matter which I have been advocating for some consideiable 

 time as l)eing the best way to cany out protective measures. With this principle 

 as a basis it is easy to exempt from protection for any time that is desiral)le, or 

 in any place, birds which may be proved to be a real nuisance in destroying fish 

 or injuring sheep. No doubt the steps taken by the Philosophical Institute of 

 Canterbury assisted in biinging about the present result. In other countries where 

 this principle has been adopted it has been found to work satisfactorily, and I 

 have no doubt that eventually this principle will be adopted by all countries which 

 find it necessary to have protective legislation on their sta'tute-bocjks. I interviewed 

 members of the House on behalf of the Institute with a view to making lepresen- 

 tations to the Coveinment as to leasing the Auckland Islands. It is true that we 

 recognize with much pleasure the reservation of Adams Island as a sanctuary for 

 the native flora of that part, but the leasing of the main island must be legarded 

 with i-egret in view of the small amount of levenue which is thereby obtained. 

 The Standing Committee considered the question of themselves applying for the 

 lease, but it was found that matteis had gone too far. 



There is one subject that I should like, in this my last oppoitunity of address- 

 ing you from the piesidential chair, to bring forward. Once every year we have 

 a general meeting of the members of this Board. Owing to geographical consider- 

 ations it is sometimes difficult to get a full meeting. Those who do attend the meeting 

 have to receive the annual leport of the work that has been done by the Standing 

 Committee, which is practically the executive of the Board. As a rule, it is best 

 to have an executive consisting <jf a small number of the members, and I have no 



