Annual Meeting. 1st November, 1883. Professor F. W. Hutton, President, in the chair.

Abstract of Annual Report. During the year nine ordinary meetings have been held, the attendance at which has been fair. At these meetings, thirty papers have been read, viz.:—15 on Zoology, 5 on Botany, 1 on Chemistry, 1 on Geology, and 8 on Miscellaneous subjects. These papers have been contributed by 19 authors; and the Council is glad to be able to draw attention to this fact, since it shows that a larger number of members are now taking an active part in the work of the Society. During the year the Council has made a somewhat new departure in endeavouring to secure for each meeting a paper, which, while making no pretension to be an original contribution to science, introduces some subject admitting of discussion by the members generally. Thirteen new members have joined during the year, while several have left; and the total number of members is now 161. Twenty-one volumes and numerous pamphlets have been added to the Library as donations, several volumes have been purchased, a large number of volumes of various periodicals have been suitably bound, and an order for about sixty pounds' worth of books, including a complete set of the Publications of the Ray Society, has been sent to London. The Hon. Wm. Rolleston has been chosen by the Council to vote at the election of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. The balance-sheet shows total receipts for the year £190 17s. 4d. Expenditure, £153 12s. Balance in bank, £37 5s. 4d. Balance in Savings Bank (Life Subscriptions), £33 1s. 0d. Total balance, £70 6s. 4d.

Election of Officers for 1884:—President—R. W. Fereday; Vice-presidents—Professor F. W. Hutton, J. Inglis; Treasurer—W. M. Maskell; Secretary—C. Chilton; Auditor—C. R. Blakiston; Council—H. R. Webb, G. Gray, G. Hogben, E. Dobson, T. Crook, Dr. Lendenfeld. The retiring President, Professor F. W. Hutton, then delivered a lecture on “The Origin of the Fauna and Flora of New Zealand.”

Ordinary Meeting. 15th November, 1883. R. W. Fereday, President, in the chair. New Member.—J. R. Wilkin, junr. 1. “On the Lower Gorge of the Waimakariri,” by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 449.) 2. “Additions to the Sessile-eyed Crustacea of New Zealand,” by C. Chilton. (Transactions, p. 249.) 3. “On the Occurrence of Phalaropus fulicarius, Pennant (Red Phalarope), in New Zealand,” by Professor J. von Haast. (Transactions, p. 279.)