SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1870 Session I, D-25

D.—No. 25.

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.

PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BY COMMAND OE HIS EXCELLENCY. t WELLINGTON. 1870.

D,—No. 25.

DirniNO the past year meetings of the Board of Governors have been held for the transaction of business on the following dates: 11th August, 28th September, 7th October, Ist November, 9th December, 1869; 2Sth March and 20th May, 1870. In accordance with the Act, the following Governors retired from the Board; Sir David Munro, J. E. Fitzgerald, Esq., and Colonel Haultain. The two former were renominated, and Dr. Knight was nominated in the room of the latter. On the Ist November, 1809, notice was received from tho Secretary of the Westland Naturalists and Acclimatization Society, stating that they would not be able to continue as an affiliated Society, owing to the want of local support. On the 18th October, 1869, the Otago Institute became incorporated in the terms of tho Act. The Institute now consists of the following Societies : — No. of Members. Wellington Philosophical Society ... ... ... ... 85 Auckland Institute ... ... ... ... ... 106 Philosophical Institution of Canterbury ... ... ... 76 Otago Institute ... ... ... ... ... 80 The election of Governors by these Societies toot jilace in the month of October, 1869, and tho following gentlemen were returned as Members of the Board for tho current year: His Honor Mr. T. B. Gillies, His Honor Mr. Justice Ward, and Dr. Haast, P.E.S. The Manager's Eeport on the Museum and Laboratory hereto appended, shows that this branch of the Institute has made considerable progress during the past year; and the Government having undertaken the publication of the Catalogue of tho Museum, in the course of a few weeks this work will bo in the hands of the public, and will form a valuable guide for the formation and proper arrangement of local collections in other parts of the Colony. The appended Statement of Accounts shows tho manner in which the funds placed at the disposal of the Board have been applied for the present year. Volume 11. of the Transactions and Proceedings was issued in the month of April, 1870, and consists of 438 pages of print and 21 lithographed illustrations. Tho edition consists of 750 copies ; 342 of which have been issued to the members of tho affiliated Societies, 50 copies have been presented to the public libraries in New Zealand, and 50 presentation copies have been distributed in England and other countries. In addition to the above, the Auckland, Canterbury, and Otago Societies have received 117 additional copies, to the value of £88 155., which is one-third of the amount of the annual subscriptions of their members, as a contribution in aid of the funds of these Societies. The remainder of tho edition is held in reserve for sale at 15s. per volume, being the same price as that fixed for Volume I. At the request of Messrs. Triibner & Co., that firm has been appointed as Agents for London, and copies-have been forwarded to them for sale. The volume contains sixty-two original articles, contributed by thirty-two members, being a great increase over the number in the former volume, which contained thirty-two articles. Nine lectures also appear in the volume, which were delivered by tho following gentlemen:—Mr. Eitzg'erald, Mr. Justice Richmond, Mr. Travers, Mr. Wakefield, and Dr. Hector. The proceedings of tho various Societies are also more fully reported than previously, and contain, in addition to the discussions which took place at tho meetings, the addresses delivered by tho different Presidents. It has been found necessary to I'cserve several papers relating to purely medical subjects, as the Board considered it advisable to defer them, for publication in a separate form at some future time for the professional reader. The Board has had under consideration a suggestion from Government, that tho functions of the Institute should bo extended so as to exercise a direct educational influence, —and in reply the Board has made the following recommendations : — That a series of lectures should be instituted in connection with the Museum, to be delivered during the winter months of the year. That the subjects should be divided into two courses, the lectures being given on alternate days, or otherwise as found most convenient. The first course should comprise lectures on Natural History, or the principles of classification as illustratated by tho elementary study of Zoology and Botany, and the application of these to Physical Geography and Geology. The second course should be devoted to the elements of experimental Science, —Physics, Chemistry, and Mineralogy. The practical course should be limited to Mineralogy and Chemistry. Eor carrying into effect these proposals it will be necessary— Ist. That additional accommodation should be afforded. 2nd. That tho requisite apparatus should be obtained from England. 3rd. That lecturers should be provided. In the meantime, until the scheme is established, the Governors are of opinion that the working of it might be left to the Staff of the Geological Survey.

SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GOVERNORS OF THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.

D.—No. 25,

REPORT OE THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.

2

Dr. Hector has communicated to the Governors his willingness to lecture on the first branch, and is of opinion that the services of his assistants might be with great advantage arranged so that they might work in the field during the summer months, and in winter assist in the course of instruction ; but the Governors, in view of the great additional labour which would be entailed on Dr. Hector by accepting his offer, would urge upon the Government the expediency of making such additions to his staff as will enable him to carry out that offer without interfering with the various duties more properly devolving upon him. By this means, without materially increasing the present establishment, the scheme might be initiated, and the valuable educational resources of the Museum and Laboratory devoted to supply tho deficiency of scientific and technical instruction which is much felt in this Colony. The fees would bo sufficient to pay the working expenses ; and by a judicious system of small endowmenls for scholarships in the various public schools, other parts of the Colony would share in the benefits of the course. Colonial Museum, G. F. Bowen, Wellington, 21st July, 1870. President.

Colonial Museum and Laboeatoet. In the year ending 31st July, 1870, 1,979 additional specimens have been added to the Museum, Which therefore now contains upwards of 21,000 specimens, exclusive of articles deposited by the owners and which can bo withdrawn. During the year the contents of the Museum have been entirely rearranged and catalogued, and a largo number of duplicate specimens withdrawn for distribution to Museums in other parts of the Colony when the Catalogue is completed. The Catalogue is being printed in duodecimo form,and will bo in the hands of the public at the same time as this Report. The Geological Map which was referred to in last year's Report is now almost completed, and will be issued at the same time. The chief additions made to the Museum by the Officers of the Geological Survey during the past year have been the rocks and fossils illustrative of the geology of Hawke's Bay, Taupo and the central Volcanoes, and the Thames District; from which latter locality a very complete series has been obtained, minutely illustrating the various mines. An interesting collection of fossils from the reptilian beds of the Amuri District, together with their associated rocks, has also been made by Dr. Haast, F.R.S., who was temporarily employed for the purpose of making a Geological survey of that locality, together with the Waipara District. The reptilian fossils mentioned in the last Report as having been obtained from the latter district have been described by Professor Owen in the Geological Magazine of February, 1870. It is intended to have plaster casts made of these interesting fossil remains, wliich include bones of the Plcsiosaurus, Ichthyosaurus, and other genera not yet determined, for distribution to the various Museums. Mention has also to be made of a collection of fossil shells, accompanied by the bones of a fossil Penguin, contributed by Mr. Duigan, from Brighton; and also a large series of tertiary and upper secondary fossils collected by Mr. Enys from tho upper basin of the Waimakariri. Tho Museum is again indebted to Mr. T. H. Potts, for a valuable contribution of foreign insects, and also several additions to tho collection of native birds, nests, and eggs. From Mr. T. R. Hackct, a collection of tho roek-s illustrating the geology of the Gympio Creek Gold Fields has been received, which possesses peculiar interest from the similarity which they present to some of the rocks from the Thames District; while at the samo time they contain fossils which indicate the age of the formation as probably Triassic. A series of lithographed illustrations of the animals of Victoria, presented by Mr. W. Seed, also deserves special acknowledgment, as forming a very instructive addition to tho Museum. The number of names entered in the Visitors' Book during last year is over 9,000; but this is as usual far short of the actual number of persons who avail themselves of the Institution. James Hectoe, 31st July, 1870. Manager.

..CCOUNTS o: ,e New Ze. .land Institute, 1869-' •o. Receipts. ESTENDITUEE. Balance in hand £ s. cl. 33 2 8 1. —Expenses of Meetings, &c. £ s. d. 34 15 1 Government Grant in Aid 500 0 0 2.—Expenses of Publication of Vol. II.... 497 6 7 Contribution from Wellington Philosophical Society 20 0 0 Balance in hands of Treasurer 32 3 0 Proceeds of Sale of Vol. I. 11 2 0 £504 4 8 £564 4 8 A. Ludl.a iir, 'reasurer.