96 Procecfling^. 



Annual AJeicting : dth IJcreinher, 1910. 

 Professor Wiiters, President, in tlie cliair. 

 The annual I'eport and l)alance-s]]eet Avere ad(i]'t<M]. 



Annual Report. 



Work of the. Council. — The Council has met tAvelve times for the transaction 

 of the business of the Institute, of which the following is a summary : — 



Your Council co-operated with the Philosophical Institute of Canterl.ury in send- 

 inf,- an emphatic protest to the Prime Minister against the destruction of seals on 

 the outlying southern islands. The Prime Minister promised that the matter 

 would have his attention in due coiu'se. 



Your Council this year decided to offer three prizes of half a guinea each to 

 the primary schools of Otago for the best naturalists' calendar, the best collec- 

 tion of insects, and the best collection of plants. The awards for this year have 

 not yet been made. 



A contribution of £25 was made to the Hocken Memorial Fund, and your 

 Council endeavoured to induce the affiliated societies to assist in the upkeep of this 

 national asset. We regret to say that we have received no satisfactory response 

 fiom any of the affiliated societies. 



Having C(msidered the amendments in the Animals Protection Act submitted 

 by the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, and having found them satisfactory, 

 your Council sent word of our willingness to act with it in urging the C4overnment 

 to accept the amendments. 



During the year your Council conmuuiicated with the Southland Land Board 

 and the Minister of Lands, protesting against the re-lease of the Auckland Islands 

 to a whaling enterpi'ise, on the grounds that such enterprise is very destructive 

 to the flora and fauna of the islands. A satisfactory assurance was received from 

 the jNIinister that .Adams Island would be set apart as a reserve, and that every 

 endeavour would be made to preserve the flora and fauna on the most important 

 areas of the islands. 



Viewing with regret the great destruction of penguins and sea-elephants on the 

 Macquaries, your Council sent representations to the local members of Parliament, 

 the Prime Minister, and others, protesting against this, and a.sking for protection 

 of the animals mentioned. Unfortunately, these islands are under the jurisdiction 

 of Tasmania, and the New Zealand Government declined to interfere. Corre- 

 spondence also took place between your Council and the Tasmanian Government 

 and several scientific societies in Tasmania and Australia. Unfortunately, your 

 Council has no means of proving the amount of destruction or the actual decrease 

 of these interesting animals beyond hearsay, and the Government of Tasmania 

 seems disposed to grant a re-lease to the owner of the oil industry on the islands. 

 Mr. Hatch, who flatly contradicts our statements as to the damage done. 



Recognizing the need for expert advice in dealing with the subject of afforesta- 

 tion in New Zealand, your Council sent a strong letter to the Prime Minister 

 urging such an appointment. The Prime Minister, however, assured us that the 

 Government have at their disposal at the present time several highly trained 

 experts, and do not consider any further appointment necessary. 



Per.^onnd of the. Council. — Dr. Fitchett was appointed a member of the Council. 

 vice Dr. Malcolm (resigned) ; Mr. Alex. Bathgate was appointed Vice-President, 

 vice. Dr. Hocken (deceased) ; and Mr. E. J. Parr was appointed to a vacancy on 

 the Council. 



Oidinarji .Uii/int/---. — Papers and addresses have been given by the President 

 (Professor Waters), Professor Marshall. Professor Park, Dr. Fulton, and Mr. 

 F. W. Payne, and a number of technical and scientific papei's have been read and 

 placed upon the table for pul)lication in the Transactions. Manj' interesting 

 exhibits have been shown by Professor Waters. Dr. Benham. Mr. George Howes, 

 Professor Park, Professor Marshall, and others. 



In pursuance of its custom, your v^ouncil invited Dr. Leonard Cockayne, F.L.S., 

 of Christchurch, a specialist in ecological botany, to deliv-er an address before our 

 members. The lecture, which was beautifully illustrated with lantern-slides, was 

 well attended and much appreciated. The subject was, " The Scientific Import- 

 ance of our Scenic Reserves and National Paiks," and the speaker gave a graphic 

 account of the various types of floral growth upon our islands and forest areas. 



Memher.^Iii p. —During the current session thirteen new members have joined 

 the Institute, two have resigned, and one — our lamented Vice-President, Dr. Hocken 

 — has been taken from us dv death. Full references to his eminent services and 



