390 Proceedings. 



meeting, making a total of 149 members. The periodicals mentioned in last 

 report are still taken in, and the following have been since subscribed foi', 

 viz. : — Annals of Natural History, Proceedings of Microscopical Science, and 

 Philosophical Magazine. 



The following works have been presented to the Library : — Thirty-five 

 vols, of Dietrichsen and Hannay's Almanack, from 1838 to 1871, by Captain 

 Edwin ; thirteen vols, on various subjects, by Mr. W. Lyon ; a complete set of 

 the publications connected with the " Novara " Expedition, through Dr. 

 Hochstetter; and a copy of Y)v. Buller's "Birds of New Zealand," from the 

 Colonial Secretary. 



From the annual statement of accounts it appeared that the balance brought 

 forward from last year was <£95 10s. 8d. The subscriptions received 

 amounted to £146 18s., and one life subscriber had paid £10. The largest 

 items of expenditure were Gray's " Genera of Birds," one vol., £25 os. 2d. ; 

 Bouchard, second payment for insects, £25 8s. lid. ; contribution to New 

 Zealand Institute, £24 9s. 8d. The balance in hand was £107 14s. 8d. 



Mr. W. T. L. Travers drew attention to the insects which had been 

 purchased by the Society from Mr. Bouchard. When they arrived they were 

 in very bad condition, but through the exei-tions of Mr. Goi-e they were now 

 in a state fit for inspection, and formed a creditable collection. 



Election of Officers foe, 1874. — President — Charles Knight, F.R.C.S., 

 F.L.S. ; Vice-Presidents— 3 . C. Crawford, F.G.S. ; W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S. ; 

 Council — Dr. Hector, F.R.S., H. F. Logan, W. S. Hamilton, J. B. George, 

 C. C. Graham, Commander B. A. Edwin, B.N., J. Blackett, C.E. ; Auditor — 

 Arthur Baker ; Secretary and Treasurer — Richard B. Gore. 



1. '' On a New Species of Eubus," by John Buchanan, of the Geological 

 Survey of New Zealand. (TransactioJis, p. 243.) 



2. " On the Durability of New Zealand Timber, with Suggestions for its 

 Preservation," * by John Buchanan. 



(abstract.) 



The author remarked that in every locality some particular timber was 

 specially lauded above every other, but that such opinion was seldom based on 

 a general knowledge of our timbers. The very best kind may be rendered 

 quite useless by cutting badly-selected trees at wrong seasons, and by want of 

 proper treatment afterwards. Trees of less diameter than 18 inches contain a 

 large amount of sap, and, consequently, are not durable. The proper time to 

 cut them is in winter, when the sap does not circulate. But the winter in New 

 Zealand is so short and uncertain that a sufficient supply of timber co\ild not 



* Printed in th.e " Wellington Indei^endent " of 29th January. 



