Conchology Section
Auckland Museum Institute

President's Report
Sounds like the last few meetings have been most interesting and a lot of fun! A big thank you to those who held the fort, especially Doug. Also to Fiona and Neville (March meeting) and Doug and Margaret (April meeting). The South Island is an amazing place!! Less people, less cars and magnificent scenery - mountains, lakes, beaches, shells, stones, fossils (both shells and other material) birds, and flowers. Are South Island shells in general larger than North Island shells? Three and a half months traveling in a motor home in the South Island is one of the most amazing things I have ever done!! No commitments, visiting remote places, staying where-ever we chose, being totally free. I’ve been spoilt rotten!! I hope to share some of these amazing experiences with you at the next meeting.

Next Meeting
Tuesday May 10th, 7:30pm in the Ranfurly Room at the Epsom Community Centre, 202 Gillies Ave. (corner of Kimberley Rd.) Park at the rear.
“A trip to the South Island”. So put on something or carry a small item so that we can recognize whether you are a conchologist, botanist, geologist, palaeontologist, marine biologist, or an ornithologist! The person who is most obvious in their role will win a shell prize! Our past president will be the judge! Use your imagination - binoculars, hats etc.
Please bring a selection of South Island shells and/or fossils for our perusal and we can decide whether they really do have some large shells!! I will be sharing some interesting finds, shells and fossils, stories and pictures! Any one with items of interest to share is always welcome.

Committee Meeting
6pm May 10th (Please provide a dinner box for yourself!) Main discussion points will be: Speakers for our meetings, 75th anniversary, building club membership, and any other matters arising!

Shell Auction
Please note a correction on the date. It is actually on Saturday July 30th, not the Sunday.

Australian Sixth National Shell Show
Dates are 11th and 12th March 2006 in Sydney. I have been to their last two shows and can highly recommend going. Sydney is much closer that some of their other venues! So keep it in mind for next year. Margaret Morley has all the details.

Wellington Conchology 50th anniversary
May 26 to 29th. Thursday 26th usual meeting at Te Papa, Tory Street Branch. Sat 28th Petone Community Rooms, 10.00am to 5.30pm diplays, sales open to public. Evening Dinner. Sunday pm visit to Jenny Raven, social, and look at the collection. If you are interested contact Deirdre Standish on 04 938 6454

June Meeting Tues. 14
CONIDAE evening. Michael Bressolles has agreed to share some information on the Conidae family. Anybody who would also like to share information will be most welcome! So start preparing your Conidae tray of shells to bring and share at our June meeting.

Chair Fund
Many thanks to Mr. and Mrs. N. Gardner for their generous $50 donation to the Museum chair fund, ($1500 pledged by the Section to be paid over 3 years) this brings the balance of our donations towards this project to $175.
Thanks also to Mr Lawre Taylor of the Council, AMI, for his donation of a box of excellent Cowrie shells for a future trading table, proceeds to go to our chair fund. If you would like to donate your surplus shells to raise funds for this project please contct Rosa, Ph: 09-620-4523, email: ratyson22@hotmail.com - or if you prefer to make a financial donation please forward your cheque to our Treasurer, Dr. N. Hudson, 4/20 Hayden St. Freemans Bay, Auckland.

75th Birthday Celebration - 16-18th Sept. 2005
We need your feedback! Your views are very important to the organising committee. We are sending you a second notice asking for your participation in this event and for you to note your comments, if any, on the rear of the form and send it back to Margaret by the 20th May (or please hand it in at the May meeting).

Subscriptions 2005
These are now due - a notice will be sent out with the May newsletter.

Library News
The Library is on the move again due to the re-building programme at the Auckland Museum. Please check details with Gladys ph. 09-624-2823 until further notice.

Editorial
Tony and Jenny Enderby are calling for general articles and also articles for a feature section about the late Miss Joan Coles in the next edition of our POIRIERIA Journal. All queries: ph 09-422-6127 or email: enderby@enderby.co.nz

Website Officer
Peter poortman - NB. correct email is: peter.poortman@xtra.co.nz

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