630 Proceedings. 



The committee appointed last session to consider the establishment 

 of a fish-hatching station reported that Purakanui was, in their opinion, 

 the most suitable locality in the neighbourhood. The report was 

 adopted, and a committee was appointed to take further steps in the 

 matter. 



The Council has voted the sum of £10 towards the establishment of 

 a seismological observatory at Timaru. 



A resolution has been carried by the Council advocating certain 

 changes in the mode of publication and distribution of the Proceedings 

 of the New Zealand Institute. 



A resolution has been passed expressing regret at the death of Baron 

 Sir Ferdinand von Mueller, and recording the sense of the Institute of 

 his distinguished services to science. 



The Council has nominated Mr. S. P. Langley, secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, as an honorary member of the 

 New Zealand Institute, and has again nominated Mr. James McKerrow 

 to vote in the election of Governors. 



The most important addition to the library during the session is a 

 complete set of volumes of the "Challenger" Reports, presented by the 

 Imperial Government to the University of Otago, and deposited in the 

 Museum library. 



Twenty-seven new members have joined the Institute during the 

 session, making a considerably larger addition to the membership than 

 the Council has had to record for several years. The total number on 

 the roll is now 120. 



The balance-sheet shows the total receipts for the year to be £82 

 19s., making, with the balance from last year, £11.3 3s. lOd. The 

 expenditure for the year is £91 IGs. 2d., leaving a credit balance of 

 £22 7s. 8d. 



Election of Officeks for 1897. — President — J. E. Don, 

 D.Sc. ; Vice-presidents — A. Hamilton and Professor. Shand, 

 LL.D. ; Hon. Secretary — Pi'ofessor Parker, F.R.S. ; Hon. 

 Treasurer — J. S. Tennant, B.Sc. ; Council — G. M. Thomson, 

 F.L.S., Professor Scott, M.D., A. Wilson, M.A., F. R. 

 Chapman, E. Melland, T. M. Hocken, F.L.S., A. Bathgate; 

 Auditor— J}. Brent, M.A. 



Professor Parker exhibited and described the following 

 additions to the Museum, all collected in Sydney Harbour : 

 (1.) The animal of Nautilus fompilius, mounted so as to 

 show the interior of the mantle-cavity. (2.) Egg-shells of 

 the Port Jackson shark {Heterodontus pJiilippi). (3.) Dromia 

 excavata in commensal association with a simple ascidian. 

 (4.) The same, in commensal association with a compound 

 ascidian. (5.) Octoinis granulatus. (6.) Sepiola, sp. 



The retiring President delivered an address dealing prin- 

 cipally with the construction of Maori pas and whares. 



