It will be observed that the greatly increased space occupied by original 

 articles, viz., 351 pages as against 248 pages in Yol. II., has also excluded 

 from publication Lectures and Addresses of a general character, such as 

 wei-e inserted in a separate sectioia of the preceding volume. 



The Api)endix contains the usual Summary of the Meteorological 

 Returns for the year, for assistance in the comj^ilation of which the 

 Editor is indebted to Mi-. R. B. Gore. 



The List of Members of the Institute shows that in addition to the nine 

 Honorary Members, the Affiliated Societies have now 544 Ordinary Mem- 

 bers ; the number on last year's roll being 342. This increase is due in 

 part to the affiliation during the past year of the JSTelson Association, and 

 also to the large accession of new Members, especially in the Societies 

 established in Auckland and Dunedin. 



Notwithstanding that in several cases illustrations sent with papers have 

 been omitted when not absolutely necessary to explain the text, the number 

 of Plates has increased in this volume to 30 ; there being in last year's 

 volume only 23. The Gover-nors have again to tender their thanks to 

 Mr. J. Buchanan for the great zeal with which he has devoted himself 

 to the pi-eparation of these illustrations, and to the Hon. the Colonial 

 Secretary for placing at their disposal the superior skill and appliances of 

 the Government Lithographic Printing Department. 



For assistance in revising a portion of the work for the press during 

 his temporary absence, the Editor has to thank the Hon. W. B. D. Mantell. 



Wellington, 20th April, 1871. 



