Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. 533 



that he will be good enough to give his opinion to the Board of Governors 

 on the matter." 



ABSTKACT REPOKT OF THE COUNCIL. 



In presenting their annual report for the year 1874, the council beg to 

 congratulate the members of the Institute on the fact that there has been a 

 slight increase in the average attendance at the various meetings held during 

 i^be year, and that the number of members has also increased. 



The council trust, however, that with the increasing numbers of the 

 Institute a better attendance may be secured for the future. 



The Institute numbers ninety-one members, fifteen having joined during 

 the year. 



Eleven general meetings have been held, including an extra meeting on 

 5th December, 1873. The average attendance at these meetings was slightly 

 over eleven. 



At these meetings nineteen papers have been read. 



During the present year a paper " On the Geodephagous Coleoptera of 

 New Zealand," in which many new species are described, has been published 

 by H. W. Bates, E.L.S., in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History 

 (ser. 4, vol. xiii., 1874), with the express intention of assisting the entomolo- 

 gists of New Zealand. The council take this opportunity of thanking 

 Mr. Bates for his valuable contribution to the natural history of this colony, 

 and also of requesting the Board of Governors to reprint the paper in the 

 next volume of the Transactions. 



The Council regret that they have not been able to carry out the resolution 

 passed at a meeting of the Institute with regard to the writing of a " History 

 of Canterbury," Mr. W. M. Maskell, the proposed author, having relinquished 

 the undertaking, and no other member being willing to supply his place. 



An arrangement has been entered into with the Public Library Committee, 

 whereby the Institute are to retain the use of the rooms they at present 

 occupy, rent free, upon condition of placing their books and periodicals in the 

 public library, such arrangement to be terminable by three months' notice on 

 either side. 



Special General Meeting. lUh Novemher^ 1874. 



K. W. Fereday, Vice-president, in the chair. 



"On the Course of University Education," by the Eev. C. Eraser, M. A. 

 {Transactions, p. 164.) 



