made to members to donate back numbers of the “Transactions of the Royal Society of New Zealand” for replacement of sets destroyed during the war. It has been decided to name the Native Natural History Hall the “Cheeseman Hall” in commemoration of the scientific work of the late Thomas Frederic Cheeseman. There has been no lessening of public interest in the Museum and its activities since the outbreak of war. The frequent visits and inquiries of Allied Servicemen have taken a large but pleasant toll of the time of the staff. The important work among the children is being continually expanded and developed. Not only are more school children visiting the Museum and a wider variety of topics for classes being made available to them, but more specimens and information are going to schools far in the country. The only limit to this work is the physical impossibility of preparing and sending a larger number. Gifts to the Museum: Captain G. A. Humphreys-Davies, Hon. Curator of Oriental Collections, has donated the whole of his valuable collection of Chinese pottery and porcelain, and has also secured for the Museum gifts of especially fine specimens from leading collectors abroad. He has also donated two valuable Chinese bronzes. Mrs. Hemingway has given the late Mr W. H. Hemingway's extensive collections of rare and beautiful insects, both those displayed by Mr. Hemingway in the Museum and his large cabinet collection. Mr. E. Earle Vaile has donated over 80 volumes and many pamphlets relating to discovery, exploration and Native life in New Zealand and the South Pacific. A bequest of £500 by the late Mr. M. Harding was received during the year. Owing to the generosity of Messrs. R. C. Horton, V. J. Larner, David Nathan, W. Goodfellow, and S. B. Waters, the “Museum has been enabled to acquire a further three Chinese bronzes. All these gifts are gratefully acknowledged. General: The Auckland Museum, founded in 1852, and The Auckland Institute, founded in 1867, were amalgamated in October, 1869, under the title “The Auckland Institute and Museum.” The amalgamated institution will therefore complete the first seventy-five years of its life in October next. The site in Princes Street of the first building occupied by the Institute and Museum was granted by the Auckland Provincial Government, and at a later date the Provincial Government made a gift of £2,200 for extensions to that building. When the present magnificent building was erected the New Zealand Government made a substantial contribution towards its cost, and many friends, both in New Zealand and elsewhere, have made valuable donations. But it can be said with pardonable pride that for the most part this great cultural and scientific institution has been created and maintained by the efforts of the people of Auckland and surrounding districts. Nevertheless there has always been a struggle to make ends meet. The total revenue for this year was £8.276, of which subscriptions yielded £447, interest on investments £1,297, and contributions from local bodies £5,700. An increased revenue is urgently needed and a Committee has been set up to consider ways, and means of obtaining it. If, as seems probable, it is necessary to approach the public for funds either directly or through local bodies, the Council has confidence that the response will be a generous one. Institute Meetings: The restoration of the Monday evening public lectures received good support from members. Of the four given, two were arranged in conjunction with the University College, and Dr. Briggs' lecture was made the occasion of a presentation to him of the Hector Medal. The thanks of members for the lectures g'ven are due to:—Mr. W. R. McGregor, “Some Aspects of the Territory of New Guinea”; Dr. L. H. Briggs, “Hormones: Chemical Growth Substances of Plants and Animals”; Lieut.-Colonel W. Wesley Clemesha, “Some Historical Outbreaks of Malaria”; Count K. Wodzicki, “The Homing Instinct in Birds.” Sunday Lectures: The popular lectures in the Museum on Sunday afternoons were again well received. For once they were entirely on overseas subjects, chiefly dealing with areas that are of special interest through the war. Mr. R. B. Sibson, “Wanderings Among the Isles of Greece”; Mrs. Olwyn M. Turbott, “Micronesia”; Dr. Lai-yong Li, “China's Part in the War”; Mr. H. A. Wood, “Snakes”; Mr. R. B. Sibson, “The Mainland of Greece”; Lieutenant J. W. Kealy, “Impressions of the Middle East.”