THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE. I51 
systems obtain, results either in the land being cut up into such 
minute portions as would in New Zealand soon reduce to bank- 
ruptcy anyone who attempted to cultivate them, or else in one 
member of the family buying the others out, in which case the 
subdivision of the land, of course, does not take place. Though 
we cannot agree with the views advocated in this paper, we can 
speak most highly of the varied reading exhibited in it, and the 
careful manner in which the arguments are set forth. 
The volume concludes as usual with the Annual Report of 
the New Zealand Institute. In a letter published in our last 
issue, Mr. Coleman Phillips says that the Board of Governors of 
the New Zealand Institute have no duty to perform beyond that 
of publishing the Transactions out of the sum annually voted by 
Parliament for the purpose, and that the other departments pre- 
sided over by the Director are quite distinct, and are directly 
under the control of the Colonial Secretary. The publication 
of the annual report is itself a refutation of this statement. After 
dealing with the number of members in the affiliated societies, a 
balaace-sheet is given, which, indeed, only professes to show the 
cost of printing the annual volume, but which most certainly is not 
the balance-sheet of the New Zealand Institute. Then follew 
reports on the Museum, the Geological Survey and its publica- 
tions, the Libraries (three in number), Meteorological Stations, 
the Observatory, and the Colonial Laboratory. Ifthe manage- 
ment of these various institutions is not under the superintend- 
ence of the Board, then why are they reported upon? If it is 
under the Board, then a full balance-sheet should be published. 
In either case an annual blunder has been perpetrated, and all 
interested in the Institute should see that the present anomalous 
condition of things comes speedily to an end. 
A considerable number of printer’s errors appear in the 
volume, in some cases far more than even an average Colonial 
printer should make, but there is no list of “addenda et corri- 
genda.” This might be very much overcome if proofs were sent 
to authors, for final revision, in every case where time would allow 
this to be done. Such a course would be more pleasing to 
authors—some of whom do not write in the most legible of 
hands,—it would materially reduce the labours of the editor and 
his assistants, and would further relieve them of responsibility. 
Ep. N.Z. JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, 
THE DIAMOND MINES OF SOUTH AFRICA* 
BY CARTAN F. W. HUTTON. 
crn 
The present paper is only a compilation of observations made 
by others, but it may be of some interest to members of the 
Society. 
ead before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, June 5, 1884, 
