ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13874, 11 April 1907, Page 10

ROYAL COLONIAL INSTITUTE.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL. [Fnojt Ocr Own Cobbespondent.) > LONDON, February 22. From tho thirty-ninth annual report of the Royal Colonial -Institute, to be presented lo tho annual meeting on Tuesday next, it appears that tlto number of candidates elected during the past year comprised 54 resident and 206 non-resident, or a total of 260, as compared with 81 resident and 823 non-residont Fallows, or a total of 304 in 1905. On December 31 last the list included 1430 resident, 3044 nonresident, and 13 honorary Fellows, or 4487 in all. The loan of £35,020 which was raised in 1886 to .enable tho acquirement of tho freehold of.the institute promises, has been paid off in full. Tho council exercised'its right to anticipate certain statutory payments, and tho&ial instalment having been paid on Ist July, 1906, tho building was freed from all , debt within 20 yean, instead of 40 years aa originally stipulated. A saving of moro than £15,000 in interest was thus effected, and tho titlo deeds of the freehold are now in possession of the institute. When tho Admiralty leacc expires it is proposed.to! occupy'tho upper floors as well as the Craven street premises ■after the necessary reconstruction. This will involve considerable outlay and an increased . cost in maintenance, but the council is'eanguiuo that additional facilities can thus'"!)? provded which will widely exlend the usefulness of tho institute and enlarge its capacity for increased membership. , ■ : The obituary list of 1906 comprises 89 namcß, including those'of the following Now Zealand Fellows of the institute: — Sir Walter L. Bullor, Mr Eorthwick R. Baird. Mr Keith Ramsay. Mr T. Purvis •Russell, Mr John Purvis Russell. Mr Kiclmrd D. Thomas. "Tho death" of tho Rk'ht Hon. 11. J. Seddon, for many years Premier of New Zealand, deprived ilic F/tnpire of a. far-seeing statesman, whose ablo services and patriotic sentiments," says tins report, "were universally recognised and respected." » The report further says:—"For many years past the council has mado representations to his Majesty's Government as to the hardship of levying double income ta-x on money invested in British colonics, end it trusts the subject will, among others, come under .consideration at the Colonial Conforcnco, wjth a viow to such duplication being prevented in tho future."