POLYNESIAN SOCIETY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1248, 30 January 1896, Page 39

POLYNESIAN SOCIETY.

The annual meeting cf this Society took place on Wednesday week in the Museum. The Rev W.J. Habens, M.A., presided. REPORT AND ACCOUNTS. Mr S. P. Smith submitted the fourth annual report of the Council, from, which it appeared that 10 members had resigned during the year, and that, 10 had been struck off for non-payment of subscriptions, while 11 new members had been elected. The Society now possessed 178 ordinary members, eight honorary members and 17 corresponding members. Mr J. H. Baker had retired from the Council, and Mr H. Dunbar Johnson had been elected in his place. The supply of original papers, many of them of great value, continued to be greater than could be published in the pages of the Journal. During last year 33 papers, besides notes, were received. Many of these had been published ; the rest remained for future production or for translation. During the four years I of the Society's existence the Couneil had | received 135 original papers on subjects con- j nected with its objects. A balance-sheet was ! also presented. It showed that the expenses had amounted to £223 12s 6d as against £268 2s 5d received, thus leaving a balance in hand of £4l 9s lid, against which there . are liabilities amounting to about £4O. The capital account stands at £3B 9s 4d, which is invested at 5 per cent. On the motion of Mr E. C. Harding, seconded by Mr A. Barron, the report and balance-sheet were adopted, and ordered to be printed in the March number of the Journal. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected :—President, Eight Eev W. L. Williams, Bishop of Waiapu ; to Council to fill three vacancies Messrs J. H. Pope, N. J. Tone and S. P. Smith. Mr S. P. Smith was re-elected one of the two joint hon secretaries and treasurers, and complimentary reference was made to the great value of the services rendered by him and his colleague Mr Tregear. They were accorded a cordial vote of thanks. Mr A. Barron was re-elected honorary auditor, and ' a vote of thanks was also passed to him for past services. "WANTED : MEANS AND MEMBERS. The Chairman expressed regret that no meetings of the Society had been held during the year for the discussion of Polynesian j subjects. He thought if the members met : occasionally, and had papers read to them, or engaged in conversational disoußsious on subjccts~relating to the work and objects of the Society, the result might be profitable. Mr S P. Smith mentioned that a large amount of literary matter in MS. was accumulating in the hands of the Society. If the membership were increased sufficiently the Journal could be isaued more frequently. He had brought back from his recent visit to the Urewera country five MS. volumes full ot interesting matter, bearing- on the aborigines who inhabited New Zealand prior to the arrival of the Maoris. Apart from these volumes there was a great heap of documents awaiting publication; some of them also awaiting translation. • A general discussion ensued as to the best method of bringing more prominently before the public the very valuable work done by the Society with a view of obtaining for it a larger measure of support by means of an £ ?otUi cil for its consideraeion AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY. ploughing They we of £«.«£ were procure photos of them, or at any rate a de description. jg Walton with the object .of inducing him to Aaj gg the canoes or