584 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE 
During the session a resolution was passed affirming the desirability 
of a re-issue of the phanerogamic portion of the “ New Zealand Flora.” 
The matter has been brought under the notice of the Government, and 
letters have passed on the subject between this Institute and the other 
affiliated societies. The council is glad to find that there is substantial 
unanimity on this important question. 
A resolution has also been passed affirming the desirability of 
affording adequate protection to the Tuatara (Sphenodon), which is 
threatened with extinction owing to the large number of specimens 
which have lately been collected for commercial purposes. This matter 
has also been brought under the notice of the Government. 
Seven new members have been elected, making the total number 197. 
The receipts of the session, including a balance of £97 8s. 3d. from 
last year, amount to £216 5s. 3d. The expenses including £12 paid as a 
contribution of one shilling and sixpence per member towards the 
expenses of the “ Transactions,” amount to £187 5s., leaving a balance 
of £29 Os. 3d. The reserve fund in the Post-office Savings Bank is now 
£193 3s. 8d. 
The following gentlemen were elected office-bearers for the ensuing 
session :—President, Professor T. J. Parker; Vice-Presidents, Dr. 
Hocken and Mr. G. M. Thomson ; Hon. Secretary, Professor J. H. 
Scott ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. C. Thomson ; Auditor, Mr. D. Brent ;. 
Council, Drs. Colquhoun and De Zouche, Messrs. A. Wilson, F. R. 
Chapman, D. Petrie, G. M. Barr, and H. Skey. 
The retiring President, Professor Scott, then read an address, from 
which we make the following extracts :— 
There now remains for me, as your president, nothing more to do 
than to bring my term of office to a close by making a few valedictory 
remarks. . . . I prefer to use the time at my disposal in referring 
to one or two matters in connection with the institute and its trans- 
actions, which I think merit a little consideration. First, as to the 
institute. You are all aware that last year we adopted a series of 
resolutions intended to remedy certain defects which we believed to 
exist in the organisation and management of the society at head- 
quarters. The co-operation of the other branch societies was sought 
for, and our resolutions were submitted to theni for approval. We 
found that the majority of them are satisfied with things as they are, 
so I have no further progress to report in connection with this matter. 
Next, as to the “Transactions.” The most cursory glance through the 
17 volumes which testify to our share in the progress of science, shows 
us that the bulk of the papers printed there are zoological, botanical, 
or ethnological in their character. Zoology heads the list; but much 
has been written on the plants, and on the Native race of this country. 
This is as might be expected, and as it should be, for not only are these 
the subjects in which much may be done worth the doing without 
special training on the part of the worker, but it is much more 
important that we should put on record what we can of a flora, a fauna, 
and a native race which we and our imported species are gradually 
exterminating, than that we should endeavour to electrify our little 
world by discoveries in matters common to ourselves and the dwellers. 
in other lands. Though our geology is as much our own as these, it 
