452 Proceedings. 



five volumes which have now been issued shows that there is an increasing 

 interest manifested in scientific pursuits, which must be attributed in a great 

 measure to the influence which has been exerted by the publications of the 

 Institute. Not only has the standard of the communications made to the 

 societies greatly improved, but the demand which is everywhere expressed for 

 elementary instruction in science evinces a desire on the part of the public to 

 obtain as a branch of education the qualifications necessary for the compre- 

 hension and utilization of scientific literature, which is so characteristic a 

 feature of the present age. 



During the last five years 445 communications have been read before the 

 dijSerent societies incorporated with the Institute, and 286 of these have been 

 printed at length in the Transactions. With few exceptions all these papers 

 relate directly to the colony, and place on record matters of fact and observa- 

 tions that otherwise would probably not have been published for many years 

 to come. They comprise in round numbers about 120 papers on miscellaneous 

 subjects, chiefly relating to ethnological considerations of the aboriginal race 

 or connected with the industrial resources of the colony, 120 on Zoological 

 subjects, 70 on Botanical, 53 on Chemistry and Metallurgy, and 60 on subjects 

 relating to Geology and Physical Geography. . 



The information contained in these volumes is widely diflTused beyond the 

 limits of the colony, the chief libraries in all parts of the world being supplied 

 with copies. 



The niimber of members of the Institute has now increased from 256 to 

 563, the following being the numbers enrolled in the diSerent incorporated 

 societies : — 



Auckland Institute ... ... ... ... ... 174 



Wellington Pliilosophical Society 

 Otago Institute ... 



Philosophical Institute of Canterbury 

 Nelson Association 



135 

 113 



77 

 64 



During the past year four meetings of the Board of Governors have been 

 held for the transaction of business, on 19th September and 13th November, 

 1872, and 21st February and 29th July, 1873. 



Sir David Monro and Mr. W. T. L. Travers, P.L.S., were re-nominated 

 Governors, and the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse and the Hon. Mr. Stafibrd were 

 appointed on the retirement of Mr. Fitzgerald, C.M.G., and Dr. Knight, 

 F.RC.S. 



The Governors elected by the Incorporated Societies for the present year 

 were Mr. Justice Chapman, Mr. RoUeston, M.H.R., Captain Plutton, F.G.S. 



In February, 1873, Mr. Ludlam resumed the ofiice of Honorary Treasurer, 

 which had been held during his absence from the colony by the Hon. 

 Mr. Mantell. 



