AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7160, 28 October 1884, Page 6

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

The monthly meeting of the Auckland Institute was held last night. There was_ a moderate attendance; Mr. H. G. Seth Smith piesided.—The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed.—The following list of new members and donations to the Library and Museum were received: — New Mkmbbbs.—Mr. H. D. M. Haszard, Auckland; Mr. T. W. Kitt, Mount Eden; Mr. J. McLeod, Auckland; Mr. J. Ross, Auckland. Donations to the Library and Museum. —Smithsonian Report for 1S81; Proceedings of the American Association for 1882; Congressional Directory forlSß2 (The Smithsonian Institution, Washington) y Journal of the Royal Society of New South Wales for 1883 (The Society); porcupine fish, rock cod (E. A. Plumley); land-rail (J. Symons); silver coin (R. Black). Mb. Caldwell's Discoveries on Ovipebous Animal 3 was a slight discussion on this subject treated by Professor Thomas at the last meeting, to which the Professor made an explanation. Description of Spiders.—Mr. H. T. Urquhart sent in a lengthy description of 19 new Bpecies of spiders collected in various portions of both islands of New Zealand. The species were fully described and illustrated by carefully-prepared plates. The treatment of the species was altogether of. a technical character. The paper was taken as read, and the plates were handed round to the members. Fertilisation of New Zealand Plants. —Mr. Cheeseman read the first portion of his paper on his notes of the fertilisation of variouß New Zealand plants. The portion read dealt with the common rewarewa, the fertilisation of which was stated to be effected by the agency of birds, a rather unusual mode. Full details of the structure of the flower and of various parts of the plant were given in a very interesting manner, especially dealing with the subject of fertilisation by birds.

On Re-Naminr New Zealand.—This was a paper communicated by Mr. Blyth to Mr. F. D. Campbell and read by that gentleman. It dealt at length with the subject of names, their euphonious sounds, and in respect to this country particularly referred to the unsuitability of the name given it by the l Dutch, naming it as they did after a flat little island. After a lengthened referencee to Mr. Hursthouse's work he suggested that the name of New Zealand should be changed to iHesperia (the western land) as being especially appropriate. It would accord in confederation with Australia, Tasmania, and other sections of the Australian colonies. The paper was a lengthy and elaborate one.—Mr. Ewington said he had no desire to say anything for or against the subject of the paper, but he congratulated the Institute on having a paper read before them that they could understand. If the example of the University Professors was followed, and things were made plain to those who came to listen, there was no reason why there should not be a large attendance at these meetings. The papers read must be of a character to be popularly understood, or the young" men of the city would not come to hear them. They should be popular in style and popular in language, and young men who now thought ••science" beyond them, would gladly avail themselves of the advantages of this Institute, instead of, as at present, thinking science beyond them.—Mr. Stewart said there was another thing he also could not understand; that was, the adoption of the name Hesperian for New Zealand. It was the most east from Greenwich of any British colony. Another thing he could not understand was, why they should desire to change the name. New Zealand had now become endeared to them. Old Zealand might be a jelly fish, but they might be a whale. Now their name was familiar to those who were seeking homes. Their name was inscribed by those who had lent them millions, and a change of names might have an important effect; but what struck him as the greatest incongruity was that of naming this colony Hesperia (the Western Isles) to the colony furthest east of the British possessions.—Mr. Campbell said the object of the paper was to promote enquiry, and give general interest, not to supersede any more scientific enquiries more properly belonging to the Institute. As to Mr. Stewart's objection, he did not think it applied, foe New Zealand lay close to east and west, and would carry sufficient surroundings for the proposed change.

Rotoboa.—Mr. James Stewart read a paper on tho project of establishing a grand hotel and sanatorium in Rotorua. The introduction showed that the purpose of the paper was to endeavour to draw attention to what might be done by the initiation on a grand scale of a combined sanatorium and hotel for tourists in the Rotorua district, comprising also the management of detached residences and boarding establishments suitable to the tastes of all invalids and travellers. In the course of a length j, elaborate, and carefully detailed paper, Mr. Stewart, after a careful comparison of the different sites, selected Whakarewarewa as the most suitable. The special requirements which he dwelt on as necessary for the scheme are—(l) a great variety and abundance of thermal springs from almost pure hot and boiling water to the strongest mineral and medicinal well? hot and tepid ; (2) all springs and waters for use ought to be at a good elevation above drainage levels, sufficient to allow of the water being led off by gravitation to any point suitable for the batu buildings, and used as plunge, douche, shower, and swimming baths, and to facilitate them being mixed, cooled, increased, or reduced in strength as may be most advisable. The next clauses dealt with the question of provision for clear cold water by gravitation, the necessity for having a suitable site. He urged that Whakarewarewa possessed all these advantages, and then dealt with the details at considerable length, concluding by giving rough designs for the construction of baths, buildings, gardens, application of available water power to various uses, and many other matters of detail. He concluded as follows : " The association for the promotion of this should be formed as soon as the railway to Kotorua is a certainty, and a certain amount of planting of fruit and ornamental trees ought to be undertaken at the earliest date. Not an hour that can be saved should be lost in furthering this project, and the writer commends it to the careful consideration of all his fellow-colonists desiring in any way to promote the prosperity of the countiy at large and our own provincial district in particular." Mr. Stewart then proceeded to point out the advantages to be derived by the scheme and the Rotorua railway, making these wonderlands the most popular spas in the world.—Mr. Ewington and Mr. Firth spoke on the subject, the former advocating Waireka and the latter commending highly the proposals of Mr. Stewart.—No farther discussion took place on the subject. Tmc Re-oi'enisg op the Mcseum.—The Chairman announced that the Museum would be re-opened on Friday, the 21st of November, with a conversazione of members and their friends, and stated that the Council would be glad to get contributions of specimens or apparatus for the occasion.