H.—34

1876. NEW ZEALAND.

EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE, 1875-76.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Tue Board of Governors held meetings during the past year, on the 11th October, 1875; sth January, 14th February, 9th March, 22nd March, 17th June, and 12th July, 187 G. The three members of the Board who retired in conformity with the sixth clause of the Act have been reappointed by His Excellency the Governor —viz., the Hon. G. M. "Waterhouse, Dr. Hector, C.M.G., F.E.S., and W. T. L. Travers, Esq., F.L.S., and the Yen. Archdeacon Stock has been appointed in the room of Alfred Ludlam, Esq., resigned. The elected Governors are —J. C. Crawford, Esq. F.G.S.; His Honor J. A. Bonar; and Thomas Kirk, Esq., F.L.S. The honorary members elected in conformity with Statute IV. of the Eules of the Institute are— Philip Sutley Sclater, Esq., Ph.D., F.E.S.; Professor Eolleston, F.E.S.; and Dr. Filhol. The number of members now on the roll of the Institute is as follows :— Honorary members ... ... " ... ... ... ... 22 Ordinary Members. Auckland Institute ... ... ... ... ... ... 219 Wellington Philosophical Society ... ... ... ... ... 180 Hawke Bay Philosophical Institute ... ... ... ... ... 59 Westland Institute ... ... ... ... ... ... 48 Nelson Association ... ... ... ... ... ... 54 Canterbury Philosophical Institute ... ... ... ... ... 93 Otago Institute ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 200 Total 875 From the above, it will be seen that two new societies have been incorporated since last report— viz., the Hawke Bay Philosophical Institute, and the Westland Institute, making in all seven societies now affiliated with the New Zealand Institute. Copies of the last volume of Transactions (VIII.) have been distributed to all the members, and also to those persons and societies mentioned on the free list herewith appended. The publication of the volume for 1875 was commenced in January, and finished at the latter end of May, occupying a period of five months ; the edition has been increased to 1,000 volumes, and, owing to the increasing popularity of the various incorporated societies, it may be necessary to still further enlarge the edition. The present volume is somewhat smaller than last year's, the difference arising chiefly from the proceedings of the societies being less voluminous. As compared with last year's issue, the sections of the work are as under: — 1870. 1874. Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... 179 pages. 195 pages. Zoology ... ... ... ... ... 131 „ 137 „ Botany ... ... ... ... ... 31 „ 46 „ Chemistry ... ... ... ... ... 20 „ 30 „ Geology .. 39 „ 57 „ Proceedings .... ... ... ... ... 50 ~ 101 „ The Appendix contains important tables relating to the climate of New Zealand, compiled under the direction of the Meteorological Inspector (in anticipation of the Annual Eeport), from returns furnished from the various meteorological stations throughout New Zealand, with accompanying notes on the weather for 1875 ; and also a paper on New Zealand Surveys, which was ordered to be printed after the miscellaneous portion of the work was completed.