fellowship for original work in those sciences which Sir James Hector had done so much to forward by his own researches. Your Council also contributed a sum of five guineas to a fund established by the Polynesian Society for the purpose of publishing works on the anthropology and ethnology of Polynesia that are too large for the journal of the society. In order to make the libraries of the affiliated societies of the New Zealand Institute of greater use to scientific workers, it was resolved, in response to a circular received from the President of that Institute, that the Otago Institute should specialise in books relating to general zoology and to geology, quite apart from the magazines and periodicals already subscribed to. Further, it was agreed that books in the library of each institute should be accessible to members of any of the other affiliated societies. Letters were sent to Lieutenant (now Sir) E. Shackleton and to Professor David congratulating them on the excellent work carried out so successfully in the Antarctic regions during the visit of the expedition of 1907–9. The Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, in conference with the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, has drawn up a number of recommendations in regard to the more effective protection of our native fauna. This is a matter in which our Institute has always taken a prominent part, and your Council had had under its consideration certain proposals towards this end. However, instead of acting on the lines suggested, the Council will give their hearty support to the recommendations of the Canterbury societies, and will take steps to bring the matter under the notice of our members of Parliament and of the Minister of Internal Affairs. As the Proceedings of the institutes are now published at intervals during the session, and have been distributed to members, it is unnecessary to recapitulate the work done. Suffice it to recall the fact that the subject of the glaciation of New Zealand has led to one of the most important and prolonged discussions we have had for many years. Five evenings were devoted to the matter. Professor Park dealt with it in his presidential address, and read three other papers, to which Dr. Marshall, Mr. G. M. Thomson, and Dr. Benham offered various criticisms from several aspects of the question. The discussion has already been published in the Press and in the Proceedings. Special addresses have been delivered by Professor Waters, Dr. Colquhoun, and Dr. Benham, each of which was of the nature of a summary of our knowledge on subjects of interest to scientific people. In addition, sixteen papers of a more or less technical character, involving original research, have been read or presented for publication in the Transactions. At the beginning of the session your Council invited Lieutenant E Shackleton to come to Dunedin and deliver a lecture on his explorations in the Antarctic. The lecture proved to be of the highest interest, and the most popular public lecture ever given under the auspices of the Institute. It had been resolved that the proceeds should be handed over to the fund for the erection of a students' hall at the University; but as Lieutenant Shackleton expressed a wish that a small contribution should be made to the Society for the Promotion of the Health of Women and Children, your Council allotted £15 to that society. However, after receiving a deputation from the committee, the donation was increased to £30, leaving £94 for the students' hall. In pursuance with a custom of the last few years, Professor Chilton, of Christchurch, was invited to deliver an address. His lecture on the “Subantarctic Islands” proved an extremely valuable and interesting summary of zoo-geographical facts, indicating the presence of an extension of the existing Antarctic Continent. At the request of your Council, Messrs. Fenwick and Cohen agreed to give some account of their reminiscences of the Imperial Press Conference. The lecture was not so well attended as the subject deserved. During the current year fifteen new members have joined, and nine have been removed by death, transference, or resignation. The total membership now stands at 124 A considerable number of books was added to the library. The balance-sheet shows the total receipts for the year to be £332 11s. 5d. (including a balance from previous year of £54 9s. 9d.). The expenditure amounted to £266 5s 5d., leaving a balance in hand of £66 6s. In addition, there is a sum of £240 on deposit. Election of Officers for 1910.—President—Professor D. B. Waters, A.O.S.M.; Vice-Presidents—Professor J. Park, Dr. T. M. Hocken, F.L.S.; Council—A. Bathgate, Professor Benham, D.Sc., F.R.S., W. Fels, Professor J. Malcolm, Professor P. Marshall, M.A., D.Sc., F.G.S., Professor H.P. Pickerill, M.B., B.D.S., G.M. Thomson, M.P., F.L.S.; Hon. Treasurer—J. C. Thomson; Hon. Secretary—Dr. R. V. Fulton; Hon. Librarian—Dr. Benham; Hon. Auditor—D. Brent, M.A.