D.—No. 9.

4

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OE THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.

Accounts of the New Zealand Institute, 1868-69.

T. M. Haultain, 16th June, 1869. Treasurer, New Zealand Institute.

Museum. During the year ending the 31st July, 1869, the collections in the Museum have been increased by the addition of 2,159 specimens, making now a total of 19,473 specimens, from which number, however, must be deducted the collections sent in exchange. The crowded state of the Museum has rendered it necessary to modify the arrangement of the cases, and has delayed the preparation of the Descriptive Catalogue in a form that will be useful as a guide to visitors. The Catalogue of the Minerals and Rocks, however, is almost ready, and fossil specimens have been figured and will be lithographed in groups according to the geological formation and the localities where they are found, as a supplement to the Index Geological Map, which is in course of preparation. This map, together with the descriptive letterpress and the above plates of fossils, will, it is hoped, form a guide to the structure of practical geology in New Zealand. The additions to the Geological Collections have been very considerable, and among others attention may be drawn to the specimen of reptilian remains from the Waipara beds ; fossils from the older New Zealand rocks ; rock specimens from the Chatham, Auckland, Campbell, Antipodes, and other Islands in the more remote parts of the ~New Zealand group : tertiary fossils ; and mineral specimens from the various mining districts. The Natural History department of the Museum has been enriched by a splendid donation illustrating Economic Botany from Dr. Hooker, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. A fine series of the birds of Queensland has also been received as a presentation from Mr. A. Lempriere. The Museum is indebted to Dr. Knox for many valuable preparations illustrating the anatomy of several rare reptiles and fish of New Zealand; and a most interesting addition is the collection of birds' nests and eggs collected and presented by Mr. Potts. The Herbarium has been increased by the addition of over 6,000 specimens of plants, chiefly collected by Mr. T. Kirk and Mr. Henry Travers. Specimens have been transferred as exchanges and presentations to other Museums, according to the appended list. The collections of recent and fossil shells, which have been sent to England for the purpose of receiving correct names and being compared with the collections from South America and Australia, at the Geological Society's Museum, have not yet been reported on. During the past year 6,260 names have been entered in the Visitors Book, but this does not by any means represent the total number of persons who have visited the Museum, as many neglect to enter their names. James Hector, Manager.

Receipts. Expenditure. rovernment Grant in Aid iontributions from Wellington Philosophical Society £ s. d. 500 0 0 Class 1.—Expenses of Meetings ... „ 2. —Purchase of specimens for exchange, andincidental expenses „ 3. —Publication of Transactions, &c. „ 4.—Assistance to Museums of affiliated Societies Balance in hands of Treasurer of New Zealand Institute ... £ s. d. 58 11 0 34 11 9 43 17 10 347 14 3 51 6 0 33 2 8 534 11 9 534 11 9