POLYNESIAN SOCIETY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1200, 1 March 1895, Page 36

POLYNESIAN SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Polynesian Society took place at the Museum last week, Sir Walter Buller in the chair. A very satisfactory report was presented. It stated that since the Society was founded 206 members had been elected, of whom four had died, six had ceased to be memmers through non-payment of subscriptions, and nine had resigned. On the 31 December last the numbers were:—Ordinary members, 187; honorary do., 8; corresponding do.; 14: total, 209. Amongst the deaths of the past year were:— Robert Louis Stevenson, the celebrated author, Hone Mohi Tawhai, the wellknown chief of the Ngapuhi tribe, and Mr A. J. Cartwright, of Honolulu. In addition the Society had lost Hoani Nuhe, a corresponding member who had taken a great interest in its work and had contributed a considerable amount of matter to its Transactions. During the year also the ill-health of the president had obliged him again to seek medical advice in England, where he now is. Liliuokalani had ceased to be Queen of Hawaii, but remained the Society's patron until it saw fit to elect someone in her place. In the Society's first .year it received 38 papers, in the second year a like number, and last year 33 papers ; in fact, there was more than sufficient material to fill the pages of the journal, and the Society had been the means of bringing to light information regarding the Polynesian race which would otherwise have been lost to the world. The council had authorised the printing of extra copies of Mr Shand's Moriori papers, with the view of having them bound on completion, for they contained absolutely the only reliable information as to this nearly extinct people. With the balance of £64 12s 7d brought forward from last year, the Society had received a total sum of £267 4s Id, and after defraying expenses, £BS 7s Id were left in hand, against: which there was a liability of £44-. Tin-, capital account, with interest added, stood at £37 4P. The balance-sheet accompanied tho report, and both were unanimously adopted. The following new corresponding members were announced : —F. W. Christian, Hare Hongi and W. Kanika. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follow : —President, the Right Rev W. L. Williams, Bishop of Waiapu. The Rev W. J. Habens, M.A., S. Percy Smith and E. Tregear were re-elected members of the council, and Messrs S. Percy Smith and E. Tregear were re-elected hon. secretaries and treasurers. It was decided to hold meetings at which papers should be discussed.