NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2992, 1 February 1917, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE

ANNUAL , MEETING CONCLUDED. The Board of Governors of the Now Zealand Institute concluded! its animal general meeting at tho Dominion Museum Library yesterday. The members present wore: Professor Bonham (president). Profossorfl Chilton, liastorfield, Kirk, Marshall,. Segar, Drs. Cockayne, Hathorley, Hilgendorf, Allen Thomson, and Messrs. C. A. Ewen, H. Hill; D. Petrie, J. W. Poynton, G. M. Thomson, and B. C. Aston (hon. secretary). Resolutions were carried expressing Tegret that tho declaration of an area as a national park does not prohibit sealing therein, and urging that a special Act. he passed defining the limits of an area for a national park, including tho southern fiord lands and waters, with protection, Tinder severe penalties, of seals and other animals therein, aiid that the matter should be brought under the notice of the Ministers of Lands and Internal Affairs; also that the Minister of Marino, bo requested to tako stops to prohibit permanently scaling in tho Sounds, National Park, and at Cascade Point, Westland. , Tho report of tho Hector Awrrd Committee (Professor Haswell and Sir Baldwin Spencer) was opened by tho president, ami tho recommendation awarding tho medal and prize.to Professor Charles Chilton was adopted. Tho Hutton Award Committee (Mr. W. H. Twelvetrees, Professor Benham, and Dr. Cockayno) in. its report recommended that the Hutton Medal should bo awarded to Professor P. Marshall. The recommendation was adopted, and it was resolved ttlat tho presentation of theso two medals should be inado at somo public meeting. It was resolved to urgo npe* , tho Government the need of a suitable building to house the valuable library and records of tho institute, as .thoir destruction would bo an irroparablo loss to tho country. On tho motion of Dr. Thomson, seconded by Professor Eaeterfiold, it was proposed that tho institute should endorse the resolution of tho AVellington Philosophical Society regarding the alteration of New Zealand mean time. • An amendment by Dr. Chilton that the institute should _ proceed to tho noxt business was carried. Professor Kirk,. seconded by Mr. Potrie, proposed, and it was resolved: "That this institute believes that ono of the first and most important steps in the direction, of encouraging tho affiliation of scienco to industry is the formation of a scientific and technological library in the Dominion, and. urges tho Government to take immediate steps to provide such a library." A deputation was , appointed, and ■later waited on tho Acting Primo Minister to urge tho necessity of definite action in regard to tho co-ordination of science and industry. It was resolved that tho. attention of the Government bo again called to the fact that tlio Dominion Museum collection ' including many valuable records ana objects, which could by no possibility bo replaced, are still housed in an old wooden building, which is liable to catch fire at any timo. On tho motion of Mr. G. M._ Thomson, seconded by Professor Kirk, it was resolved that tho publication of a catalogue of New Zealand fishos. is a matter of national importance,, and that the Government should bo asked to undertake tho work at as early a period as possible. Officers Elected. The following officers and committees were elected:—President, Professor W. B. Benham; hon. editors, Drs. L. Cockayne and 0. A'. Cotton; hon. treasurer, Mr. C. A. Ewon; hon. secretary, Mr. B. C. Aston; hon. librarian, Dr. J. Allan Thomson; Publication Committee, Professor Kirk, Drs. Cockayne, Cotton, and 'Allan Thomson, and Mr. B. C. Aston: Library Committee, Drs. Cotton, Cockayne, and Thomson; Hector Award Committee for 1918,' Professors Chilton, Easterfield, and Marshall, 'and Dr. Cockayne; Hutton Award 1 Committee for 1920, Dr. Cockayne, Professors Benliam and Marshall; Research Grant CommrV<ee, Professor Easterfield, Dr. Thomsdn, and Mr. Aston. Tho next annual meeting will bo held in Wellington on January 29, 1918.