AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 202, 30 August 1887, Page 2

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

The ordinary meeting of the members of the Auckland Institute was held last night in the lecture room of the Museum, Princesstreet. There was a fair attendance, Pro" fessor Thomas presiding.

The Secretary notified that Mr H. M. "Wilson had been elected a member, and that donations had been received for the Museum from Miss Burns and Mr J. Edson.

Essays.—Four essays were read. The first was written by the eminent naturalists (Mr Reischek), and in his absence was read by the chairman. The writer dealt with the ingenuity and destructiveness of rats, and afforded interesting information as to the habits of the rat,more particularly at Chalky Sound. Mr Reischek reported that he had shot, poisoned, and trapped rats; but for many months they did not seem to lessen, and had eaten his provisions, gnawed his boots, climbed his wire and destroyed his skins, and had gone so far as to slide along a wire and gnaw a skeleton, to say nothing t)f nibbling at his companion's hairwhilst he was asleep.—Some discussion ensued upon ;fche habits of the rat, in the course of which • several interesting anecdotes were related. The Growth of Transplanted Trees.— Mr Baber then read a paper upon " The Rate of Growth of Transplanted Trees," and treated upon the various forest trees which had been planted in the Domain in 1865 : Kauri, rimu, totara, tanekaha, etc., by Mr Chalmers, the then superintendent of the Domain. The rimu had done best, but the period of twenty years which had elapsed since the planting was not sufficient to form any accurate iaea of the rate of growth, and he hoped that in the march of improvement these specimens would be " spared. Mr Baber also spoke of the growth of Norfolk Island pines, and mentioned some examples of gree* sizes being attained by this variety in Auckland. Several speakers in discussing the paper expressed the opinion that Government should take measures to protect the young trees. The Great Barrier Thermal Springs. —Mr Pond read an interesting paper written by Mr C. P. Winkelmann upon "The Hot Springs at the Great Barrier." The writer gave a very circumstantial and graphic account of his explorations of the Barrier Island. Mr Winkelmann described the No. 2 spring, and an analysis of its waters wae read. The No. 3 and No. 4 springs were then dealt with, the latter having a slight terrace-like formation of eilica around it.

Nature of Government. —Mr John 3uchanan read an essay upon the "Nature of Government,'' with special preference to property in land. The writer traced the growth of government from its primitive period. He pointed out that the Government was after all just what the collected opinion and feelings of the people made it, and that when the people became locally selfish instead of broadly patriotic, it was no wonder that their representatives were not particularly honest. He considered that the security of the rights of property was one of the great landmarks of civilisation ;' at the same time he thought that it was the duty of the State to prevent the acquisition of large tracts of land by one proprietor.—After votes of thanks had been accorded the essayists, the meeting terminated.