THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1160, 21 February 1874, Page 14

THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting was held on Tuesday, Dr Stuart in the chair. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed, NEW MEMBER. Mr Johnson, of Wakari, was una nimously elected a member of the Institute, on the motion of Mr M'Kerrow, seconded by Mr Thomson. annual report. The annual report was then read as follows :—: — During the past eighteen months the following < papers have beeu read : — Mr Justice Chapman — ' Annual Address. Mr J. T. Thomson— On Barata Numerals. Mr J. S. Webb — On Topical Variations of Atmospheric Pressure. Mr J. S. "Webb — On a Fish of the Genus Bovichthys, caught near Dunedin. Mr Purdie — On a supposed Hybrid between a Cat and an Opossum. Mr Purdie— On Recent Additions to the Museum. Mr J. P. Webb— An Address on the Work of the Past Year in Astronomy and Celestial Physics. Mr R. Gillies — On Kiwis captured near Dunedin. Mr J. S. Webb — On the Botany of the Tussock Ground near Inverc irgill. Dr Deck -On Infant Mortality. Mr Skey— On a New Construction for an Astronomical Telescope. Mr J. S. Webb •On Zodiacal Light. Mr J. T. Thomson — On Glacier Action and Terrace Formation. Mr A.. H. Ross — On the Variation of the Declination of the Magnetic Needle in the Southern Portion of the Middle Island, aud the Establishment of Magnetic Observatories in New Zealand. Mr Peter Thomson— On a Visit to Sandymounl, and a Description of its Natural Features. Mr Purdie- On the Skull of a Grampus. Dr Lauder Lindsay — On the Acclimatisation of Salmon in New Zealand. Mr J. T. Thomson — On Philological Considerations on the Whence of the Maoii. Mr Skey — On a Smokeless and Self -Feeding Furnace for Lignites and other Fuels, and tlie Utilisation of the Waste Heat. Mr A. H. Ross— On Observed Irregularities in the Action of the Compass in Iron Steam Vessels. Captain Hutton— Lists of Insects Recorded as Observed up to the Year 1870. Orders for books and apparatus to the amount of over £100 have been sent home by the Book Committee, most of which are now in the library of the Institute. Additional apparatus for the spectroscope, consisting of an induction coil, giving a 4 A -inch spark, and Browning's new spark-condenser, an apparatus for giving the spectra of solutions, were, on the advico of Professor Shand, ordered for the Institute. Professor Shand has kindly consented to take charge of the spectroscope and apparatus connected with it. There is now a balance in hand to the Library Fund of £13 2s 9d, as shown by the Treasurer's statement. The Council has much pleasure in noticing the success of the Field Naturalist Club, a report of which was published by its Secretary, Mr Peter Thomson, at the close of last season. Tho Council acknowledges with thanks the courtesy of the University Coiincil in allowing them the use of the rooms in which the meetings have been held during the past year. The balance sheet showed that the receipts for the year amounted to £145 Bs, leaving a balance of £9 Is 6d over the expenditure. The report and balance sheet were adopted. ELECTION OP OFFICERS. On the motion of Mr Gillies, seconded by

Mr Blair, Mr J. T. Thomson was elected President of the Institute. Messrs M'Ker. row and Brent were elected Vice-Presidents. Mr J. S. Webb was elected Treasurer, and Captain Hutton Secretary. The following gentlemen were elected a Council : — Dr Black, Mr Blair, Mr Bathgate, Mr Gillies, Mr Shand, Mr Skey, and Mr P. Thomson.

A paper.

Mr J. S. Webb then read an interesting paper on "The Mythology and Traditions of the Maori in New Zealand," by the Rev. J. J. H. WohleiP, of Ruapuke, Southland. The paper had been compiled from a number of tales collected by Mr Wohlers in the Maori language, some twenty-five years ago, when there were still a few Maoris alive who were acquainted with the ancient lore. These tales could not be collected now, at any rate in the South, because the new ideas introduced by Christianity and European settlements had superseded the old Maori ideas. The tales could ouly have historical worth when the mythologies and traditions of the Natives from widely different parts could be compared with them, as thereby the migrations and the archaic place where the Polynesian race might have had its growth and development might be traced. The paper, which was a lengthy one, dealt with some of the most interesting legends current amongst the Maoris, and was both instructive and amusing. At the conclusion of the paper an interest' ing conversation ensued, after which Mr Bathoate moved a vote of thanks to Mr Wohlers, the author of the paper. The motion was seconded and carried.

Dr Stuaut suggested that Mr Wohlers should be requested to supply the Maori version of the traditions that had been read. The meeting then adjourned.