Abstract of Annual Report.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 25, 1892, Page 550

Abstract of Annual Report. The number of members on the register is 187. Fifteen new members were-elected during the year, and 23 names withdrawn, of which 3 were from death and 7 from resignation. In keeping up a Museum for the instruction and amusement of the public, the Institute is performing a work which, in other parts of New Zealand, and in Australia, is solely made a charge upon the public funds. The Council therefore feel that the Institute deserves more support from those who are able to afford it, and trust that the present members will use their influence to introduce new subscribers The balance-sheets appended to the report give full information respecting the financial position of the society, but a brief synopsis will doubtless be useful to the members. The total income credited to the General Account has been £2,305 13s. 9d., but this includes a sum of £1,500 withdrawn from investment to meet the cost of the new addition to the Museum, so that the ordinary income may be stated at £805 13s. 9d. Last year the amount was £736 10s. 7d. The interest on the invested funds of the Costley bequest has been £482 5s., and the Museum endowment has yielded in rents and interest £162 11s. 9d. The members' subscriptions amount to £133 7s., a sum slightly under that realised last year. The total expenditure has been £2,295 15s. 9d.; but, as in the case of the income, this sum should be divided into two portions—one representing the ordinary expenditure incurred in the maintenance of the Institute and Museum, amounting to £763 2s., the other the cost of the new hall and its fittings, equalling £1,532 3s. 9d. Part of this, it will be remembered, was shown on last year's balance-sheet as an overdraft at the bank. The position of the invested funds of the Institute may be regarded as satisfactory. The total amount at the present time is £11,370 10s. 10d. As previously stated, £1,500 has been withdrawn during the year; but, on the other hand, £1,418 1s. has been added, so that the reduction since the last annual meeting is very small indeed. The Council consider that the members are to be congratulated on the fact that, notwithstanding the large cost of the new building, every liability in connection with it has been discharged, and that yet the capital of the Institute barely shows an appreciable reduction. Nine meetings have been held during the year, at which sixteen papers were read. The number of visitors to the Museum has largely increased during the year. On Sunday afternoons a register has been kept by the janitor, showing that 10,528 persons have entered the building on that day, being an average of 202 for each Sunday. On week-days the visitors have been occasionally counted, and, although an accurate estimate cannot be given, it is believed that the average attendance has been about 110. Excluding certain days on which the Museum was closed for cleaning, &c., this would give an attendance of 32,780 on week-days, or a total of 43,308 for the year. In last year's report the Council fully stated the reasons that had induced them to enlarge the Museum. As the addition is now completed and opened to the public, it is desirable to give the members some information respecting its construction and cost, and the use to which it has been applied. It consists of a hall, 100ft. in length by 50ft. in breadth, placed on the south side of the main building, and at right angles to it. It is substantially built of brick, with concrete floor, and is roofed with iron and glass, being practically fireproof. The total expenditure in connection with the building was £1,532 13s. 9d., inclusive of the show-cases

and erection of the Maori house, together with the expenses incurred in suitably mounting and labelling the exhibits. The new hall has been devoted to the ethnological collections, and particularly to that part illustrating the habits and mode of life of the Maori race, now by far the most complete in the colony. The collection is now arranged on a systematic and definite plan. The building was opened by a conversazione held on the 29th October. The Council have to thank His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow for presiding. A considerable number of additions and donations have been received during the year. The thanks of the Institute are due to Messrs. W. K. Graham and Co. and Mr. Hugh Craig for serving as agents of the Institute in London and San Francisco.