3904 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE. 
chemical phenomena which form the grand distinction between 
living matter and dead matter in every shape, are due to the action _ 
of this force ; and till we shall have discovered how it was originally 
called into action, or at least in what manner it still 
continues to operate, we shall not be able to rely on 
any experimental theory as being the complete and proved 
explanation of any phenomena presented by living beings: 
. And now, in welcoming our President-elect to his 
office, I hope we may find under his auspices that the present 
year will prove the most prosperous that our Institute has yet seen. 
ANNUAL REPORT. 
The Hon. Secretary then read the following report :—. 
‘‘ During the present session five general meetings have been 
held, including the present annual meeting. 
«At these meetings nine original papers have been read, all on 
zoological subjects, with the exception of one dealing with the 
natural features, fauna, and flora of Macquarie Island. 
*« At the beginning of the session the Council adopted a scheme 
for the delivery of regular courses of popular lectures. Two such 
courses have been given—one of three lectures on ‘ Fermentation 
and Putrefaction,’ by the Secretary ; and one of four lectures on 
‘English Literature,’ consisting of two lectures by Professor 
Mainwaring Brown on Chaucer, and two by Mr. Alexander Wil- 
son, M.A.,on Tennyson. In each case the plan was adopted of 
distributing among the audience a printed syllabus of the lectures, 
and a small fee was charged to non-members, sufficient to cover 
expenses of printing and advertising. The success attending 
these lectures has been such as to warrant the Council recom- 
mending their continuation next session. 
‘« Six new members have joined the Institute during last session, 
but on the other hand the names of several defaulters have been 
struck off the roll. The total number of members is now 177. 
“The receipts tor the year, including a balance of £15 18s. 3d. 
from last year, amount to £195 2s. 3d. The total expenditure was 
£167 8s. 3d., so that there remains a balance in hand of £27 6s. 
The Permanent Fund in the Dunedin Savings Bank now amounts 
to £166 13s. gd.” 
The Secretary called the attention of the meeting to a circular of 
the ‘‘ Balfour Memorial,” which he laid on the table, stating that 
he would be glad to receive contributions from any who were 
interested in the scheme. He remarked particularly upon the 
nature of the proposed memorial, namely its foundation of stu- 
dentships for the prosecution of research in biology, and expressed 
a hope that, as the studentships were not to be limited to Cam- 
bridge men, one of them might some day be held by a student of 
our own University. 
The following were elected office-bearers for the ensuing ses- 
sion :—President, A. Montgomery; Vice-presidents, W. Arthur, 
C.E., and Rev. Dr. Roseby ; Hon. Secretary, Prof. Parker, B.Sc., 
etc.; Hon. Treasurer, D, Petrie, M.A ; Other members of Council : 
T. M. Hocken, M.R.C.S., Professor Scott, G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., 
F. R. Chapman, R. Gillies, F.L.S., G. Joachim, and Prot. Mainwar- 
ing Brown; Auditor, D. Brent, M. A. 
The Secretary exhibited some recent additions to the Museum, 
including a stuffed edible turtle, skeleton of the Dugong and the 
Sting Ray, the latter prepared by the glycerine jelly process. 
