Auckland Institute. 525 



timber. But if they looked into the absolute facts they would come to a 

 different conclusion. They would find that it was simply the natural 

 requirements of the people and the necessities of trade that had to be met. At 

 first, bushmen selected the best trees, but now the timber trade had increased 

 to such dimensions that the saw-mill proprietors cut down all trees that were 

 suitable, and utilised even the branches, by splitting them into shingles. In 

 his opinion, the idea of conserving our native forests to the extent proposed 

 by Mr. Firth was quite Utopian. 



Annual General Meeting. \bth February, 1875. 



T. Heale, in the chair. 



New members. — Captain T. Brown, W. F. Buckland, "W, Rattray, 

 J. Ronaldson, J. Y. Stevenson, J. M. Tunny, W. H. Williams. 



The secretary read the list of donations to the library and museum during 

 the last month. 



ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL REPORT. 



Seven meetings have been held during the past year, at which seventeen 

 papers were read. 



Special thanks are due to Captain F. W. Hutton, for a complete skeleton 

 of Dinornis crassus, and to Dr. Ford, for a nearly complete set of the 'Lancet.' 

 Many other valuable donations have been made to the museum and library, 

 notably by Mr. J. Goodall and Mr. W. Earl. 



The Provincial Council has made a grant of £100 to the library, and 

 100 volumes are now on the way from England. 



The council recommend that an attempt be made to form a building fund 

 and erect a new museum at once on the present site, plans for such building 

 having been already prepared. 



The receipts for the year ending 10th February, 1875, including a balance 

 from last year of £107 5s., amount to .£434 19s. lOd., and the expenditure to 

 <£321 Is. Id., leaving a balance of £113 18s. 9d. in hand. The entrance fees 

 and subscriptions amounted to £207 18s., while £112 16s. lOd. was spent in 

 the purchase of books and periodicals. 



Election of Officers for 1875. — President — J. C. Firth; Council — 

 J. L. Campbell, M.D., J. M. Clark, W. Earl, G. F. Edmonstone, T. B. Gillies, 

 J. Goodall, C.E., Hon. Colonel Haultain, T. Heale, Bev. J. Kinder, D.D., 

 G. M. Mitford, J. Stewart, C.E.; Secretary—"^. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. ; 

 Auditor — C. Tothill. 



Plans and estimates of a building proposed to be erected for a museum and 

 library were then exhibited j and the chairman spoke urging the meeting to 

 come to some definite conclusion on the subject. 



