PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17320, 5 December 1921, Page 11

PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

—. —* ANNTJAL REPORT. The annual report of tho Philosophical Institute of Canterbury state* that the membership stand; al 233. Th" Art-e-ion Wells Committee, which was appointed last year, j nnd who 33 work is referred to later in the report-, has or en granted £IOO by the Now Zealand Institute for its purposes. Mr A. M. Wright ha« l-een granted £7.» for research on the "Vitamine Content of Commercial Meat Products," and Dr. C. C. Farr £73 for icsearch on the physical properties of gaafreo sulphur. Other Government research giants obtained through this Institute in previous years, and covering researches still in operation, are Geological surrey of the Malverji Hille, Mr R. Speight; porosity of porcela?h, Dr. C. C.Farr; fruit tivediseasei, Mr G. Brittin; afforestation on the Spencer .Ranges, Mr W. Morrieon; research on the New Zealand brown coals, Dr. AV. P. JSva-ns; composition of Canterbury waters, Mr Geo. Gray; research on the phosphatic limestones of Canterbury, Mr K. Speight Mr L. •!. Wild. The In3titutc had recen ed a bequest of over 500 lantern elidee of scientific value from the late Mr F. H. Hitch.nga. It was reported that the Riccarton Bush was in good order, and it was hoped shortly to publish a email guide or hand-book for the use of visitors. "Die eum of £35 out of • grant of £IOO made by the New Zealand Institute had been spent on recorder® placed on well* near Canterbury College and on the Avon. During the year a joint arrangement had been made by tho New Zealand Government, the British Government, and the Carnegie Institute whereby sufficient funds would now be forthcoming to ensure the continuance cf the work of tii? SAmoan Geographical Observatory for at least two vea. a. ' The bal-air.c-sheet shows tin total receipts, including a ba!ai\<ie of i'2C3 18?, to be £52 ) 17a sd. Ill' expenditure on the library hus been £llß is Sd. Tlxe credit balanca in the ordinary ac-

cunt, is £122 2* 3d, in th« w^'-rc^fucd £H2 lCs 3d. The life member? •übsajpuoa account now stands at £lB2 17a 6a, d.pofWQd with the Permanent Investment and IfMB As&ociatinn of Canterbury. A strange case of kidnapping, for no apparent reason, is reported from Melbourne. A ten-year-old lad named Alexander Talbot returned to his people dn Monday, and was surprised to find thA't he '.van posted aft lost. He told hU stovj-4 'i'ne Jittl© chap was IqaTiug srhool at noon on Friday, wh«>a a woman stopped him and said that she hail just lett his mother, who wanted him to stay with the strange woman for a .few days. He went with he' confidently, and was taken'into the city. The woman took him to a coffee palace, where the two stayed over the week«end. On the Monday morning the kidnapper sent the child home agaiu. The boy said that tho woman bought him new clothes and tool; him to a theatre. He had a week-end of ice-creams, pocket-money, aad theatres. There was a visit to a circus, and there wore merry-go-round rides. The woman had a camera and took map* shots of the child. The child returned to his people on Monday morning, very surprised to find that while ha had been enjoying himsdi they had bsen searching him with the aid of the police.* It was apparent that the strange woman merely wanted to mother the child for a while, ;u:d give him a holiday according to h boy's idea of what a holiday should he.