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that had been mounted in groups for the Wembley Exhibition have been returned and placed on exhibition in the Museum. Insect Collections.—The transfer of the extensive collections to the new quarters in the Dominion Farmers' Institute Building was successfully carried through with practically no damage to the fragile specimens. Accessions include a collection of beetles donated by Mr. G. V. Hudson, several hundred insects collected at Whangarei and New Plymouth by Colonel R. W. Tate, and some tropical butterflies presented by Mr. H. W. Simmonds, including three specimens of the magnificent butterfly Troides broolceana. In addition, Mr. E. K. Lomas has presented the nucleus of a collection of spirit specimens of spiders. About five hundred children, accompanied by parents and teachers, have attended demonstrations and lecturettes on the collections. Fish Collections. —The principal accessions of marine fish have been a ribbon-fish, Regalecus pacificus, purchased from fishermen at Nelson, and some new species obtained on the trawler " Futurist." The collection of fresh-water fish has been amplified by specimens from Canterbury, and by eels from several localities, including a collection of elvers from the estuary of the Tarawera River, presented by Mr. W. Cobeldick. Conchology.—Several new and very interesting mollusca and echinodermata were obtained on the short trips, already referred to, on the Wellington trawler. Donations of rare or new shells have been received from Mr. A. W. B. Powell, of Auckland, and of fossils from the Geological Survey Department. Dr. R. Haeusler, of Auckland, has presented a large number of land and fresh-water shells from Switzerland. Dr. T. Mortensen, of Copenhagen, who has been revising the New Zealand echinoderms, has returned the Museum specimens he had on loan, and has supplemented the collection with many rare species. A large collection of fossils from Chatton, near Gore, presented last year by Mr. E. M. Christie, was cleared during the year, and is now being identified by Dr. J. Marwick, Geological Survey Department. Herbarium. —The very extensive herbarium of the late Dr. Donald Petrie was bequeathed to the Museum on his death on the Ist October, 1925, together with some valuable botanical publications. Suitable fireproof accommodation was secured by taking over additional rooms in the Dominion Farmers' Institute Building,, and the collection was safely transferred from Auckland, and has been arranged, so that it is now accessible to students. The great importance of the collection is shown by the fact that, with the exception of less than ten species, every fern and flowering-plant described in the new edition of Cheeseman's flora is represented in nearly every case by a good series of specimens well preserved. The Dominion is under a deep debt of gratitude to Dr. Petrie for this magnificent gift. Dr. Petrie's herbarium is being kept intact, while all other specimens are being worked into the general collection. A considerable number of specimens was added by collection at Stewart Island and in the vicinity of Auckland. Now that the two herbaria have been made accessible, and the botanical library housed alongside, reference to them by botanists and tourists from all parts of the Dominion have been made, while students of the local colleges and secondary schools have made frequent use of them. Library. —Additional wall-space has been provided in the rooms in the Dominion Farmers' Institute, and a part of the library transferred there. The usual exchanges have been received. Publications. —Bulletins 8 and 9, which have been printed under direction of the Board of Maori Ethnological Research, were issued during the year. Several publications authorized by the Board of Science and Art are in the Printer's hands. The new edition of Cheeseman's Manual of the New Zealand Flora, which was edited by Mr. W. R. B. Oliver, of the Museum staff, was issued by the Government Printer during the year. Registrar-General. . Registrations.- —The following registrations were effected during the year 1925 : — Europeans : Births, 29,751 ; deaths, 11,093 ; marriage notices, 10,542 ; marriages solemnized,. 10,502 (including 2,176 by Registrars); adoptions, 409; dissolutions of marriage, 509. Births registered under section 24 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act (from Ist April, 1925, to 31st March, 1926), 147. Maoris : Births, 1,379 ; deaths, 696 ; marriages, 355. Dentists Register.—During the year 25 names were added to the Dentists Register by registration and 7 removed on evidence of death, leaving a total of 820 on the register at the end of the year. Officiating Ministers.—On the 31st December last there were 1,989 ministers on the list of officiating ministers under the Marriage Act having authority to solemnize marriages in New Zealand, as. follows : Church of the Province of New Zealand, commonly called the Church of England, 471 ; Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, 397 ; Roman Catholic Church, 302 ; Methodist Church of New Zealand, 286 ; Salvation Army 165 ; Congregational Independents, 37 ; Baptists, 64; Church of Christ, 33 ; other denominations, 234. Searches made and Certificates issued.—For Pensions Department, 5,019 ; for National Provident Fund, 3,541 ; for Labour Department, 2,043 ; for Education Department, 599 ; other searches (for public, &c.),. 9,314 ; certificates issued, 8,132 ; total searches and certificates, 28,648. Dominion Analyst and Chief Inspector of Explosives. The number of samples received from various Government Departments during the year 1925 . totalled 4,459, of which 3,321 were forwarded by the Health Department. . Mines. —The-Geological Survey submitted fifty-seven rocks for superior rock analysis, including: an interesting series from Malvern Hills, collected by R. Speight. The greater portion of samples from the Head Office and Inspection Staff were comprised of coal, coal-mme dust, and mine-air. Prospectors' samples forwarded eioher directly to the Laboratory or through the Head Office show a falling-off in numbers as compared with previous years.

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