552 Proceedings. 
Institute not being sufficient to keep a tazidermist continuously at work. The most 
urgent requirements in the Museum are now table cases, through the want of which the 
greater portion of the mineralogical collection has to be stowed awayin bozes. A large 
show-case for the collection of New Zealand birds is much needed, as also fittings for 
packing away duplicates, specimens selected for ezchanges, etc. 
Library.—The Council have to acknowledge the receipt of a grant of £95, under the 
Public Libraries Subsidies Act. This amount has been expended in the purchase of 
standard scientific works, and the books are now on their way from London. The Pro- 
vincial Library still continues under the care of the Institute, under the very unsatisfactory 
arrangement first made with the Government, as mentioned in the last report. The 
number of readers has been large, and is still increasing. 
No action has been taken by the Government in reference to the endowment of the 
Museum. The Council very much regret that this is the case, for they cannot conceal 
the fact that the revenue of the Institute—always much too small for the proper fulfil- 
ment of its duties—does not increase in nearly the same proportion as the demands upon 
it. There can be no doubt that if Auckland is to possess a public museum and library 
worthy of the name, an assured and stable income must be granted for its support, and 
that in no case should either the museum or library depend entirely for its existence 
upon the precarious and fluctuating revenue derived from annual subscriptions. The 
Council trust that the Auckland members of Parliament will, during its next session, 
endeavour to obtain some permanent source of revenue for the institution. 
The annual balance-sheet showed the receipts to be £525 17s. 2d, (including the 
balance of £74 16s. 8d. carried from last year’s accounts). The expenditure amounted to 
£496 8s. 1d., leaving a balance of £29 9s. 1d. 
Erection or Orricers ror 1879 :—President—Rev. A. G. Purchas, 
M.R.C.S.E.; Council—R. C. Barstow, Rev. J. Bates, J. L. Campbell, M.D., 
J. C. Firth, His Honour Mr. Justice Gillies, T. Heale, Hon. Col. Haultain, 
G. M. Mitford, J. Stewart, M. Inst. C.E., T. F. 8. Tinne, F. Whitaker ; 
Auditor—T. Macffarlane ; Secretary and Treasurer—T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.8. 
On the motion of Mr. Ewington, seconded by Col. Haultain, it was resolved — 
“That the thanks of this meeting be accorded to those gentlemen, whose generosity 
to the Institute during the past year has enabled the Council to lay before it such a 
gratifying report." 
