Annual Report for Session 1949.
Representatives on the Museum Committee. For another Session Messrs. George Simpson and C. V. Dayus have continued to give their services in this capacity.
Representatives on the Council of the Royal Society of New Zealand. Miss Marion Fyfe and Dr. C. M. Focken.
Professor F. G. Soper. The congratulations of the Branch go to these two gentlemen whose signal work in the cause of science have earned them this recognition.
Pre-Sessional Meetings. The opportunity of hearing lectures by distinguished visitors to this country was taken in three pre-sessional meetings held in March. Dr. R. A. Silow, plant geneticist, Dr. Anton Bruun, zoologist, and Mr. Harold Mattingly, formerly Assistant Keeper of Coins and Medals at the British Museum, all delivered addresses of great interest; members of the Branch enjoyed meeting and talking to these gentlemen.
Historical Section. After being inactive since 1940 the Section was revived at a meeting called on August 4, 1948, by a group of the University staff. Four meetings were held during the year, including a joint meeting with the Otago Branch of the Royal Society addressed by Dr. Morrell, a lecture by Professor J. Rutherford of Auckland University College, and a discussion on history teaching in conjunction with the annual conference of Otago and Southland Secondary School teachers. At the end of the year the membership of the Section had reached 40, including 11 full members of the Royal Society and 10 student members.
The programme for the 1949 session comprised 8 meetings, including a joint meeting with the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Geographical Society, with which the Section also exchanged invitations to further meetings. Thirty-four new members joined, including 23 student members, making a total of 74 for the financial year 1948–49, but, owing largely to the annual turnover of senior students, attendances have merely been maintained at about the 50 mark.