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AMALGAMATION OF SOCIETIES IN NEW ZEALAND. 



By JOHN D. BNTS, Esq., F.G.S., President, R.I.C. 



In the year 1868 the following four societies were incorporated 

 under an act passed by the parliament of New Zealand, dated 

 1867 : — The Wellington Philosophical Society, the Auckland 

 Institute, the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, and the 

 Westland Naturalists' and Acclimatization Society. 



The Otago Institute joined in 1869 ; the Westland Institute 

 in 1874, in place of the previous society; the Hawkes Bay 

 Philosophical Institute in 1875; the Southland Institute in 1880; 

 and the Nelson Philosophical Society in 1883, since broken up. 



The members on the roll of the New Zealand Institution 

 numbered 944 in 1889-90. 



It was early seen that if each of these Societies published 

 separate transactions, their value would be slight, whereas if 

 they could combine and have one set of transactions for New 

 Zealand, the volumes thus published might be of great permament 

 value. 



An act was brought in and passed by the parliament of New 

 Zealand to enable this to be done in a legal form, dated 1 867. 



In this act it is provided that no society can join unless it 

 has more than 25 members and a subscription list of over £50, 

 of which sum ^ must be devoted to the maintenance of a museum 

 or library, failing this ^ must be paid to the New Zealand 

 Institution. 



The New Zealand Institution has its head quarters at the 

 seat of government situated at Wellington. 



Each affiliated society elects members yearly to represent 

 them at the board of the New Zealand Institution, before whom 

 all papers are placed to determine which shall be published in 

 full or in abstract. Should any society fail to fulfil these con- 

 ditions, they cease to be incorporated. All papers not published 

 are returned to their respective societies. 



Subject to the Act of 1867, each society retains its own laws. 



