Auckland Institute. First Meeting. June 13, 1870. Rev. Dr. Purchas, President, in the chair. A list of newly elected members was read.

Abstract of Annual Report. The Auckland Institute was formed at the commencement of 1868, and at the close of 1869 numbered 67 members. At the present date the number of members is 130. During the two years of its existence it has been instrumental in placing upon public record, in the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,” a considerable amount of scientific information on the Geology, Natural History, and Botany of the colony, and on other subjects of considerable value. It has also maintained and extended, as far as its resources would allow, a Public Museum and a small Reference Library. The Secretary read a list of donations made to the Museum and Library since February last. The President then gave the following

Anniversary Address. In entering upon the third session of our Institute, it is pleasant to be able to congratulate you upon the continued increase in our numbers. At the end of our first year (1868) we had on our list the names of 68 members out of 255 belonging to the four societies incorporated with the New Zealand Institute. In the return for last year we rank first, having 100 members out of a total of 342, and our list for this year at the present date numbers 130. It must be gratifying to the founders of the New Zealand Institute to witness the success with which their efforts have hitherto been attended. The fact that so many persons in various parts of the colony should thus have united together to promote the objects for which the Institute was founded, is highly encouraging, and full of hope for the future. Hitherto it is true that the active workers have been comparatively few in number; but there is reason to hope that from time to