550 Proceedings. 



who came to this colony en masse from North America, and now reside in 

 the vicinity of Waipu and Whangarei, numbering with children about 1,000 

 souls. Out of this small population two have died at the age of 96, and in 

 addition to a considerable number who reached various ages between 80 

 and 90, three have died within the present year at the ages of 90, 88, and 

 86. There are other five men and women with whom the author is well 

 acquainted, now alive and in good health, at the ages of 92, 89, 87, 85, 

 and 83. The number of those living and dead, who have reached fourscore, 

 is also considerable ; in fact, it is with them a common age, and calls 

 forth but little comment. 



Annual General Meeting, llth February, 1879. 

 E. C. Bar stow in the chair. 



New Members.— J. L. BagnaU, W. C. Breakell, C.E., W. Burton, A. D. 

 L. Hammond, T. Lindesay, J. McCoU, S. Vaile. 



The Secretary read the miuutes of the last annual meeting, held 18th February, 1878. 



annual report. 



The Council of the Auckland Institute, in presenting their report for the past year, 

 have again to congratulate the members on the steady progress made by the society, and 

 on the increasing interest manifested by the public in its operations. Twenty-five new 

 members have been elected during the year. The Council regret to have to record the 

 death of five members. There have also been a few withdrawals, principally caused by 

 removals to other parts of the colony. The total number on the register is now 281. Six 

 meetings have been held during the winter session. The attendance on the whole was 

 satisfactory, although there is room for improvement in this direction. 



It is satisfactory to be able to state that the additions and donations to the Museum 

 have been far greater than in any previous yea,r. The Council have especial pleasure in 

 drawing attention to the truly magnificent donation made by Mr. T. Eussell, C.M.G., of 

 a series of full-size plaster-casts from the most celebrated statues of antiquity. The 

 importance of this gift can hardly be over-estimated ; not only is it valuable from the 

 beauty of the figures themselves, but more especially from affording to art-students an 

 opportunity — hitherto entirely wanting — of studying and working from accurate copies of 

 the unequalled productions of ancient Greece and Eome. The number of full-sized 

 figures is twenty-two, of busts eleven. In addition to these, Mr. Eussell has forwarded 

 terra-cotta busts of the Prince and Princess of Wales, modelled by the well-known 

 sculptor Count Gleichen. Mr. Eussell's communications were, in the first instance, made 

 through Dr. Campbell. This gentleman, well aware that the funds at the disposal of the 

 Institute are little more than sufficient to meet current expenditure, most kindly offered 

 to defray all expenses connected with the preparation of the pedestals and the unpacking 

 of the casts and then- erection in the Museum. Thanks to this timely and welcome 

 liberality, the whole consignment has been placed in the Museum without any expense to 

 the Institute. 



It also occurred to Dr. Campbell that the advent of Mr. Eussell's presentation might 

 very well be taken advantage of to estabUsh a school of design. He, therefore, addressed 



