we were still doing nothing, and he desired to urge the necessity 

 of some action in the interests of the community at large. 



Mr. Magarey pointed out that the Tasmanian Museum was 

 thirty years older than ours ; the huilding was put up 

 economically ; and in Sydney the fine structure was obtained 

 under favourable circumstances. In New Zealand the Museum 

 was not an expensive one He believed that the one in Christ - 

 church was of wood. 



Mr. Cooke said he thought that those of Christchurch and 

 Dunedin were of stone. 



Mr. Magarey said Mr. Cooke's arguments were sufficiently 

 good to stand without his making unfavourable comparisons. 



Professor Tate referred the meeting to his own remarks on a 

 former occasion when he dealt with the question of the value of 

 Museums, and that of our Museum not fulfilling its proper func- 

 tions — viz., in the way of accommodation and in other respects. 

 The Museum might be in connection with the University. The 

 Curator was hampered, and had not the liberty of buying on 

 his own responsibility good specimens which were often placed 

 in his way. The Council of the University were liberal to 

 him (Prof essor Tate) , and he trusted that the Museum con- 

 nected with the University would be one which the colony 

 could be proud of ; he intended to do his utmost to make it so. 

 ]N"ew Zealand as a scientific colony ranked high, and had a 

 foremost place amongst the British colonies. The scientific- 

 men connected with it were of world-wide reputation. 



Mr. Chapple suggested that some temporary building might 

 be provided, so that collections might not be lost. The matter 

 was very pressing, and something should be done, even if it 

 were only to put up a weatherboard building for the exhibition 

 of valuable specimens. 



Professor Tate remarked that the tendency here appeared 

 to be to spend all the money on the outside and starve the 

 interior. If £20,000 were put at the disposal of some practical 

 gentlemen they would put up a building that would last 100 

 years and serve its purpose well. 



Ordinary Meeting, September 2, 1879. 



Professor P. Tate, President, in the chair. 



The Hon. Secretary laid upon the table : — 



" Observations at the Adelaide Observatory for December, 

 1878." 



" Kesults of Observations in Meteorology, &c, in Mel- 

 bourne." By E. J. Ellery, P.P.S. Vol. V. 



" Eucalyptographia, " first and second Decades. By Baron 

 Perdinand von Mueller. 



J. "W. Billiatt was elected an ordinary member. 



