562 Proceedings. 



Institute not being sufficient to keep a taxidermist continuously at work. The most 

 urgent requirements in the Museum are now table cases, through the want of which the 

 greater portion of the mineralogical collection has to be stowed away in boxes. A large 

 show-case for the collection of New Zealand birds is much needed, as also fittings for 

 packing away duplicates, specimens selected for exchanges, etc. 



Library. — The Council have to acknowledge the receipt of a grant of £95, under the 

 Public Libraries Subsidies Act. This amount has been expended in the purchase of 

 standard scientific works, and the books are now on their way from London. The Pro- 

 vincial Library still continues under the care of the Institute, under the very unsatisfactory 

 arrangement first made with the Government, as mentioned in the last report. The 

 number of readers has been large, and is still increasing. 



No action has been taken by the Government in reference to the endowment of the 

 Museum. The Council very much regret that this is the case, for they cannot conceal 

 the fact that the revenue of the Institute — always much too small for the proper fulfil- 

 ment of its duties — does not increase in nearly the same proportion as the demands upon 

 it. There can be no doubt that if Auckland is to possess a public museum and hbrary 

 worthy of the name, an assured and stable income must be granted for its support, and 

 that in no case should either the museum or library depend entirely for its existence 

 upon the precarious and fluctuating revenue derived from annual subscriptions. The 

 Council trust that the Auckland members of Parliament will, during its next session, 

 endeavour to obtain some permanent source of revenue for the institution. 



The annual balance-sheet showed the receipts to be £525 17s. 2d, (including the 

 balance of £74 16s. 8d. carried from last year's accounts). The expenditure amounted to 

 £496 8s. Id., leaving a balance of £29 9s. Id. 



Election of Officeks foe 1879 : — President — Eev. A. G. Purchas, 

 M.E.C.S.E. ; Council— B. C. Barstow, Eev. J. Bates, J. L. Campbell, M.D., 

 J. C. Firth, His Honour Mr. Justice Grillies, T. Heale, Hon. Col. Haultain, 

 G. M. Mitford, J. Stewart, M. Inst. G.E., T. F. S. Tinne, F. Whitaker ; 

 Auditor — T. Macffarlane ; Secretary and Treasurer — T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 



On the motion of Mr. Ewington, seconded by Col. Haultain, it was resolved— 



" That the thanks of this meeting be accorded to those gentlemen, whose generosity 



to the Institute during the past year has enabled the Council to lay before it such a 



gratifying report." 



