WORK FOR SCIENCE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 940, 6 October 1910, Page 3

WORK FOR SCIENCE.

IN MANY PATHS; THE PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. The animal meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society was held at . the Dominion Museum last night, Mr. A. Hamilton presiding over an attendance of nearly thirty members. The council's annual report stated that, during the session, which opened on May 4, no fewer than 29 papers had been read,, and a number of interesting exhibits had been laid on. the table. In addition tothe six ordinary .'meetings, there' had been three special meetings for lectures by Professor Bickerton (on- the astronomical, theory of the third body), and Mr.'T. Buckley (on wireless telegraphy), and for the constitution of the Astronomical section of the society. . The council contributed ,£lO to assist' Professor Bickerton to put his theory before astronomical societies for but without committing .itself to any opinion on its merits. The Astronomical section had already held one meeting, when Dr. Kennedy, ; F.R.A.S.i. lectured on' astronomy "in the.. Concert Chamber of the Town Hall. The . joint library scheme had been advanced a" step by' the-council allowing Victoria College students and other interested 'persons the privilege y of consulting books in .the library. In response to. a- 'request from the council, the Minister. for Marine" .had' promised to supply the" Scott Antarctic, expedition with, a tide gauge, if it. is not-already, equipped with one,' and on condition that Captain Scott will undertake to make the desired observations and furnish the Government with, particulars of the same. The important subject of, tidal, observations ; at. the: outlying islands had also received consideration, and-, the' council was now' endeavouring ■ .to obtain the services of an observer ,at the" Chathams. Since the last annual meeting, ; 22 new members had'been elected,,'and three had resigned. There ' were : now- 132 on the roll. The , financial- statement showed a credit-.balance ■of £55 7s;: 5d., and . the research fund :on fixed.'deposit, .at- the Ba.nk of New Zealand- amounted to J248 Is. 4d.,rmaking: a iotal. sum .'in hand of <£103 Bs.' 9d. v:--

; The report, and financial statement were adopted.- . . . . I The following" officers -were ; elected for the, ensuing ■" year :-r-President, .'Mr.:" G. •; V.[ Hudson, E-.E:5.,;; vice-presidents, Dr.: C.Monro Hector and Mr. T. King, F.B.A.S. ; council, Mr.: Martin Chapman; ,K,C., Prof.. H. : B; Kirk, Mr. F.'--)G. A. Stuckey, M/A;, DrJ; Kennedy, F.E.A.S.;. Prof esso'r ■Picken,Professor Basterfield, and Mr. A. Hamilton; secretary and treasurer,'-, ' Mr.' CI E. Adams, M.Sc.; • F.R.A.S.;'. auditor,yMiv E. 8.-jDymbck, A.I.A.N.Z. j ; librarian,; Miss' J. A. Wilson. "

/Mr.,iG.- Leslie . Adkin read a paper on. post-tertiary * geological history 'of . the Oilau Kiver. and tne 'j adjacent . .coastal plain. ; '. -The following. papers .'were -received "The Igneous Eocks pf.; the. Waihi ,Goldfields," and- "A Note/on the ''Structure ,of. the Southern Alps," by Mr. P. G. .Mor-' gan; "Notes- on Actinians from ; the Ker.madecs,"! and "Notes on Tnnicates from, the.Kermadecs,"by Mr..F. G. A. Stuckey; "The /First .Noted. Occurrence' of Pentahionic Acid.'in'.Mineral: Water's," .by Dr.'. J. ,S. Maclaurin; "The Harmonic . 'Analysis of Tidal Observations," by Mr.-C.' E. Adams; "Further Contributions to the Chemistry of the Flora.of iNewjZealand," by Professor, Easterfield; "Notes on, the Lepidoptera Added. to •; the, -Domiiiion .Museum during 1909-10," "Some Eecent. Discoveries of Moa'Bones," and-"Notes .on Some,-Strange' and .Bare Fishes,"-'.'by Mr; A. .Hamilton'; "Sponges, from ;the\Kerma-; decs," by\ Professor 1 Kirk; •„ • "Chemistry and Toxicology of New : Zealand Plants, : "List of Phanerogamic; Plants' of- the, Wellington Province,";and. ; "A Further .Ho-: fanical .Exploration of' the. Tararuas." by Mr. B. C.- Aston. v- - --. i ■ ; Fourteen new members were elected;' ■ •' Mr. Phillips-Turner-exhibited.a.crested Polypodium Cunninghanii,' a very interesting specimen of rare occurrence. Three - cases: of: foreign, butterflies from tho Museum were also exhibited.