Great Barrier Reef Committee: On the motion of Dr. Oliver, seconded by Mr. Pycroft, the report was adopted. Great Barrier Reef Committee. Report of Representative. A meeting of the Committee was held at Brisbane on 8th December, 1943. Other than routine business, discussion took place on the future activities of the Committee, in which connection a letter from Vice-admiral Sir John Edgell was read. The Chairman stated that oceanographical work in the Barrier Reef was after the war likely to be greater than before. More boring was also likely to be done after the war. Sir John Edgell discussed questions concerning detailed mapping of the Reef, especially by aerial photography and by sounding on the outer edges of the reefs in order to obtain profiles. The financial statement shows a balance of £1,777 15s 7d, of which £1,300 is in bonds. W. R. B. Oliver. Observatories' Committee: The report of the representatives on the Observatories' Committee was adopted. Observatories' Committee. Report of Representatives. The Observatories' Committee has again not met during the past year. Dr. Barnett, Director of Meteorological Services, paid a visit to Apia in August, 1943, and Mr. Sapsford, Acting Director of the Apia Observatory, visited New Zealand during September, 1943. The quariterly reports from the Apia Observatory and from the Dominion Observatory have been regularly received and they indicate satisfactory progress. D. C. H. Florance. Carter Observatory Board: The report of the representatives on the Carter Observatory Board was adopted. Carter Observatory Board. Report of Representatives. There were three meetings of the Board during the year. Mr. M. M. F. Luckic and Dr. C. E. Adams were re-elected Chairman and Deputy Chairman respectively. Mr. R. A. McIntosh was appointed as one of the Government representatives on the Board in place of the late Professor C. Coleridge Farr. Lieutenant-Colonel Stratton, Professor of Astrophysics at Cambridge University, during a short visit to Wellington, gave a lecture on Novae at the Carter Observatory on the 8th September. He also attended a meeting of the Board on the 13th September, at which his advice was sought on the future programme of work of the Carter Observatory. The Director, Mr. M. Geddes, and Mr. I. L. Thomsen are still absent on naval service. Miss K. Turner has continued to carry out essential clerical duties and has co-operated with the Defence Development Section of the Scientific and Industrial Research Departmemnt in the provision of information derived from sunspot and auroral observations. The Lecture Room at the Observatory was again used by the Meteorological Office during two periods of about ten weeks, in connection with training courses for Meteorological Officers. In the absence of the Director and Assistant it has not been possible to arrange any regular programme to sustain the interest of the public in the Carter Observatory. The Board is particularly grateful, therefore, to Professor Stratton for his address and to Mr. E. P. Norman, a member of the Board, who gave a well attended lecture in the Public Library Lecture Hall on 20th April, his subject being “The Story of the Giant Telescope.” The Observatory and equipment have been maintained in good order and the surroundings kept tidy by arrangement with the Reserves Department of the City Council. M. A. F. Barnett. C. G. G. Berry.