Wellington Philosophical Society. 509 



ions 



from the Geological Survey Department of India and twenty-nine from the 

 Smithsonian Institute. 



The council consider that the best way of disposing of a portion of the 

 large balance to the credit of the society is by purchasing good standard works 

 of reference, and they have embraced the opportunity of Dr. Hector's visit to 

 England to request that gentleman to select such books as he thinks suitable 

 for our library. This Dr. Hector has kindly consented to do, and the council 

 have, therefore, placed at his disposal the sum of £100 for the purpose. We 

 may therefore hope soon to have a useful library of reference on all branches 

 of science. 



There is also every reason to suppose that, when the extensive additions to 

 the Colonial Museum are completed, arrangements may be made with the 

 Governors of the New Zealand Institute whereby the society may be enabled 

 to secure within its walls increased accommodation, both as regards the library 

 and for the holding of evening meetings. 



The balance sheet showed the sum of £162 5s. 8d. to the credit of the 

 society after defraying all expenses. 



The chairman announced that Professor Wyville Thomson, Professor 



McLachlan, Esq., of London, had been 



elected honorary members of the New Zealand Institute. 



Election of Officers for 1875. — President — W. L. Buller, D.Sc, F.LS., 

 F.G.S. ; Vice-Presidents— J . C. Crawford, F.G.S., and W. T. L. Travers, 

 F.L.S.; Council— Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, F.G.S., T. Kirk, F.L.S., J. R. 

 George, C.E., C. C. Graham, Captain Edwin, J. Marchant, H. F. Logan; 

 Auditor— A. Baker ; Secretary and Treasurer — K. B. Gore. 



The chairman said he considered the society fortunate in securing 

 Dr. Buller's services for the office. That gentleman had recently returned 

 from England, where be had achieved a well-earned fame amongst scientific 

 men by the production of his recent work, " The Birds of New Zealand," in 

 regard to which he need say nothing, as the merits of the work were well 

 known and generally recognised throughout New Zealand. The compliment 

 they were about to bestow upon Dr. Buller was well deserved, not only on 

 account of his recent book, but also on account of his efforts to establish the 

 New Zealand Society (afterwards changed to the Wellington Philosophical 

 Society), of which he was for some time honorary secretary. His election 

 ■would, therefore, justly mark those early efforts in the cause of science in New 

 Zealand when it was not so much advanced as it is now. 



Mr. Travers (who was not present at the beginning of the meeting), before 

 the business of the annual meeting concluded, proposed a vote of thanks to 



