452 Proceedings. 
five volumes which have now been issued shows that there is an increasing 
interest manifested in scientific pursuits, which must be attributed in a great 
measure to the influence which has been exerted by the publications of the 
Institute. Not only has the standard of the communications made to the 
societies greatly improved, but the demand which is every where expressed for 
elementary instruction in science evinces a desire on the part of the public to 
obtain as a branch of education the qualifications necessary for the compre- 
hension and utilization of scientific literature, which is so characteristic a 
feature of the present age. 
During the last five years 445 communications have been read before the 
different societies incorporated with the Institute, and 286 of these have been 
printed at length in the Transactions. With few exceptions all these papers 
relate directly to the colony, and place on record matters of fact and observa- 
tions that otherwise would probably not have been published for many years 
to come. They comprise in round numbers about 120 papers on miscellaneous 
subjects, chiefly relating to ethnological considerations of the aboriginal race 
or connected with the industrial resources of the colony, 120 on Zoological 
subjects, 70 on Botanical, 53 on Chemistry and Metallurgy, and 60 on subjects 
relating to Geology and Physical Geography. 
The information contained in these volumes is widely diffused beyond the 
limits of the colony, the chief libraries in all parts of the world being supplied 
with copies. 
The number of members of the Institute has now increased from 256 to 
563, the following being the numbers enrolled in the different incorporated 
societies :— 
Auckland Institute ex p vas 174 
Wellington Philosophical Society э s say 155 
Otago Institute ... és sie ove 113 
Philosophical vaqa of Canterbur y i-i d 7 
Nelson Association T 64 
During the past year four сс of i» Board of Fic have been 
held for the transaction of business, on 19th September and 13th November, 
1872, and 21st February and 29th July, 1873. 
Sir David Monro and Mr. W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., were re-nominated 
Governors, and the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse and the Hon. Mr. Stafford were 
appointed on the retirement of Mr. Fitzgerald, C.M.G., and Dr. Knight, 
F.R.C.S 
The Governors elected by the Incorporated Societies for the present year 
were Mr. Justice Chapman, Mr. Rolleston, M.H.R., Captain Hutton, F,G.S. 
In February, 1873, Mr. Ludlam resumed the office of Honorary Treasurer, 
which had been held during his absence from the colony by the Hon. 
Mr. Mantell. 
