AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5491, 23 June 1879, Page 3

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

y • is The first meeting of the session of 1879 wa i' held on the 2nd June, in the Council-roon of the Museum and Institute Building,— Dt d Purchase (President) in the chair. is Additions and Donations to thi e Library and Museum.—Publications ol thi d Royal Geographical Society, a complete set a 70 volumes, Mr. J. T. Mackelvie, London i, Proceedings of the Royal Colonial Insti 1- tute, vol. 9, the Institute; "Royde'i 11 Fibrouß Plants of India," Mr. G. P. Pierce r " Buchanan's Grasses of New Zealand," thi it Colonial Mnsenm; facsimile copy of thi a Treaty of Waitangi, the Native depart -. ment; old picture of the B <ttle o n Okaihaa, Judge Manning ; 100 birc 8 skins, 7 mammals, 50 ethnological apeci •- mens, all from New Guinea, purchasec

from Mr. A. Goldie j spoon-bill duck, Air E. Hobbs, M.H.K. ; skin of grebe, Mr McElwaine; akin of grebe, Mr. C. Pace skin of bittern, Rev. Mr. Smales ; foreigi shells, G. Johnstone; centipede, K. Home English wasps and hornets (in spirits), \V Marshall; specimens of pholhs similis! Captain Bowton ; specimens of the elephant fish, J. Goodall, C.E. ; 3 species fishes, large collection of rock specimens and fossil: from Kawau, Mr. S. T. George, M.li.R. graphite and other minerals, from Taranaki, B. Wells; volcanic rock specimens, Dr, Purchas; ISO ethnological specimens from the West Coast of Africa, Mr. J. T. Mackelvie ; food basket used at the native meeting at Te Kopua, H. D. Johnson. There was a large attendance of ladies aud gentlemen. Amongst the visitors were the Chief Rewi and the Hon. the Native Minister, attended by several other natives of less rank. President's Addres.—The President delivered the opening address of the session, of which we give a very condensed report: We e n ter to-day on onr twellth aeaaion. Those of us who can look back to our first meeting for the reading of papers on the 4th of May, 186S, will note with pleasure the signs of progress by which we are surrounded. Our first list of subscribers recorded in our earliest minute-book, contains oDly some 23 names; now we number 28S. In literature, we have also made a good beginning. Our library contains a considerable number (about 1200) of scientific works of a high class. These have been obtained, partly by the expenditure of our own sub, acriptions and other funds entrusted to us. and partly by some donations aud bequests. In the department of Geology, we have a large number of valuable rock specimens, including a typical collection specially obtained from England, which cannot be exhibited in the Museum for want of suitable table-cases. In Zoology there are mauy iuteresting and beautiful skins of birds and other animals packed away out of sight, because we have not tha means to employ a taxidermist to set them up. We have no classes in any branch of science, not because there are no persons desirous to learn, bat because we have not the means and appliances necesuary t j carry on the work of instruction. We have no laboratory, no apparatus, no suitable theatre for lectures, and no funds to provide them. We hope that a beginning_ may be made ere long by the opening of a class for the study of Botany, which has the advantage of being able to dispense with costly apparatus. In fact, such a class might be formed at any time nnder the care of oar worthy secretary, Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, F.L S., if a moderate number of pupils would agrae to meet together say once a week for this useful study. In the department of art a good begininug has already been made. The splendid casts of world-renowned antique statues which now, thanks to Mr. Thomas Rusaeii, C. M.G , adorn our museum and excite the admiration of numerous visitors, are silent instructors of all who study them with open eyes ; while special instruction is freely provided for those who, having the necessary natural gifts, desire to cultivate the limuer's art. The classes established by the kimlly thoughtfulness and liberality of our friend Dr. Campbell, under the charge of Mr. Kennett Watkin, are in full work, and making fair progress. The number of students of both sexes now on the liet is 31. I think members of the Institute should press its claims upon the members of the General Assembly. The Institute possesses a valuable collection of geological specimens which could not be classed and exhibited for want of case accommodation. Mr. Ueale has forwarded £10 to the secretary for this object. I also think that some recognition should be made of the donation sent by Mr. J. T. Mackelvie. Thanks.—A vote of thanks was pas3ed to Mr. Mackelvie, on the motion of Colonel Haultain, seconded by Mr. Barstow, R.M. Eewi's Address.— The Hon. Mr. Sheeuan suggested that the President and Council .should take Rewi over the place and state what they required. Rewi rose and said [The Hon. Mr. Sheehan acting as interpreter] : Salutations, Auckland people ! Ia 1859 I left Auckland. I now return to it after a lapse of 20 years. I am astonished at the improvements that have been made. I can scarcely recognise it as the same place. *In my country 1 have coal and iron and other ores, and stone of value. Those things which are mine I will be prepared to sell to your peoplo when they want to buy them. (Hear, hear, and applause.) As to the things which you ask for your place here, I will see to them myself, that you may get them. (Applause.) — The Hon. Mr. Sheehan: I shall be happy to do what I can for this institution by assisting it to obtain funds. I have not laboured in vain in the past for the purpose of aiding the Council and the Institute. I believe these institutes are doing much good. They are making the colony known outside the colony itself. I read their '' transactions" with great interest. They are a credit to the country. I have a collection of mats and other articles which I shall have much pleasure in presenting to the Institute. (Cheers.) Sheep Disease.—The Secretary read a paper by Vlajor Mair upon the recent disease which appeared in the Waikato. It was in effect that in several healthy sheap which had been slaughtered a maggot was found to have punctured tho brain. In one case a maggot was found at the root of the tongue. It was probable that the insect had entered tho body of the animal by the nostril while it was feeding. About.:the time when the disease was first noticed, a particular kind of fly was observed in the district. The maggot was probably the worm of that fly. The maggot sometimes was fouad to be from three-quarters of an inch to an inch and a-half in length. It was marked with two triangular black spots at the nether end. Sforadanthus.—Mr. T. F. Cheeseman, F.L S., read a notice of the occurrence of the genus SporadantlMs in New Zealand, in large quantity over a swampy area between Hamilton and Ohaupo. Prianopus.—A paper was read by Captain Broun on the development of Priano pus.