Nelson Association for the Promotion of Science and Industry.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 3, 1870, Unnumbered Page

Nelson Association for the Promotion of Science and Industry. At a Preliminary Meeting held at the Masonic Hotel, Nelson, June 9, 1869, for the purpose of forming a Society for the Promotion of Scientific Objects. The Bishop of Nelson in the chair. An Address was delivered by Dr. Williams; after which it was proposed by Mr. Huddleston, seconded by Mr. Fletcher, and carried unanimously,— “That those present having heard the paper read by Dr. Williams propose that, in accordance with suggestions therein contained, a Society be formed in Nelson for collecting scientific statistics and facts of Natural History, and for promoting the knowledge of the natural resources of the country.” First Meeting. June 16, 1869. The Bishop of Nelson in the chair. The Rules of the Association were discussed and agreed to. Second Meeting. July 7, 1869. The Bishop of Nelson in the chair. The Bye-laws were agreed to. An address, “On the General Objects of the Association,” was read by the Chairman. Third Meeting. July 28, 1869. Dr. Williams in the chair. The following Office-bearers were elected:—President, Sir David Monro; Vice President, The Bishop of Nelson; Treasurer, Mr. C. Hunter Brown; Committee, Dr. Williams, Messrs. Gouland, Fletcher, W. Huddleston, and Dr. Irvine. Fourth Meeting. August 4, 1869. The Bishop of Nelson, Vice President, in the chair. Dr. Irvine read a paper, “On the Minuteness of the Particles of Substances, as illustrated by the Phenomenon of Luminous Combustion.”

Fifth Meeting. September 1, 1869. Mr. C. H. Brown, Treasurer, in the chair. Mr. J. Smith was unanimously appointed Hon. Secretary. Dr. Williams read a paper, “On the Cultivation and Preparation of Flax” (see Parl. Papers, Flax Commission, 1870, D 14, p. 40), and compared the merits of Linum usitatissimum and Phormium tenax as objects of cultivation in this colony. Sixth Meeting. October 6, 1869. Mr. C. H. Brown, Treasurer, in the chair. A conversation took place on the subject of Dr. Williams' paper read at the last meeting. Seventh Meeting. November 3, 1869. The Bishop of Nelson, Vice President, in the chair. A letter from Dr. Hector was read, announcing the despatch of a case of specimens of the Thames reefs and bed-rocks. Mr. T. Mackay exhibited specimens of New Zealand flax prepared by himself. Mr. Warden Broad gave the meeting an account of the country in the neighbourhood of the Wangapeka, and particularly of the Blue Creek reef. Eighth Meeting. December 1, 1869. Mr. George Williams in the chair. Mr. T. Mackay, Senr., read a paper, “On New Zealand Flax, and its preparation for manufacturing purposes.” (See Parl. Papers, Flax Commission, 1870, D 14, p. 44.) Ninth Meeting. February 2, 1870. Sir D. Monro, President, in the chair. A conversation took place on the subjects of Flax and Silk culture and manufacture. Tenth Meeting. March 3, 1870. Sir D. Monro, President, in the chair. A paper, “Qn Sericiculture,” prepared by Mr. T. C. Batchelor, was read. (See Parl. Papers, 1870.)

Eleventh Meeting. April 6, 1870. Sir D. Monro, President, in the chair. Mr. Wells read a paper, “On the resemblance of the country in the neighbourhood of the Dum Mountain and the Wairoa Gorge to the mining districts of Queensland and Auckland.” (See Transactions.) To illustrate his subject, he had before him, on the table, specimens of several of the rocks mentioned in his paper, and the resemblance of stone from the Maitai to specimens from the Thames was very striking. An interesting conversation followed, in which the President and several of the members took part, and it was cursorily stated that both reef and alluvial gold had been obtained from the Maitai within the last few days. Twelfth Meeting. May 4, 1870. The Bishop of Nelson, Vice President, in the chair. Mr. Wells read a letter from Dr. Hector, stating that Mr. Skey, Analyst to the Geological Survey, had examined the Cupreous and Chromic Iron Ores from the Dun Mountain, and in both had detected distinct, though small, traces of gold. A discussion ensued as to the desirability of affiliating the Association with the New Zealand Institute, and ultimately a Committee was appointed to consider and report on the subject. The Vice President then read a paper, forwarded by Dr. Haast, “On the Thermal Springs on the Hanmer Plains, Province of Nelson.” (See Transactions.)

(Abstract.) The author points out that in this country, where flax and wool are produced in quantity, fitted for any purpose, whether coarse or fine, there were no manufactures of either, save some rope of the one, and coarse cloth of the other; both, be it said, however, good in their way. Timber of any dimensions and quality, suited to the multitudinous uses it can be turned to, even to the finest articles of furniture, and yet but little used. Coal, inferior in quality to none in the world, but the supply hitherto of that fuel derived from England or New South Wales. Iron ore of every kind, with its kindred fluxes side by side, not only not

utilized, but a bad quality of pig-metal imported from home, while much refuse metal and iron that could readily be converted into good wrought iron, wastefully thrown aside. Lime and other building stones, cement, gypsum, as well as brick clay, in the same profusion, some little used, but most neglected. Copper, silver, and gold swell the list, promising to reach no mean magnitude as items of production, but the mining for them, as well as their after treatment, conducted in an extravagant fashion, and with an entire want of scientific knowledge. He next points out that even the most important article of food— flour—is provided principally from Southern Australia and California, with this strange anomaly that, whilst one province gluts its market from these countries, a neighbouring province, having enough and to spare, exports its surplus to Europe; and that the only present successful institution in the category of colonial manufactures is beer. As a means of stimulating attention to industrial manufactures, the author urges the introduction of rudimentary scientific instruction into Common Schools, and also the formation of an institution where practical or technical science might be acquired. He then gives an indication of the branches of instruction usually included in such a course. Thirteenth Meeting. June 1, 1870. Sir D. Monro, President, in the chair. The Report of Special Committee appointed at last meeting was read by the Secretary, as follows:—“The Committee having carefully perused the rules of the New Zealand Institute, are of opinion that it is highly desirable that this Association should be affiliated with the New Zealand Institute, and that efforts should be made to extend the number of members, so that the aggregate income of the Association may amount to the sum fixed as the condition of affiliation, namely, £50 per annum; and they further recommend that, in order to comply with the conditions of affiliation, the subscription be raised from ten shillings to one guinea per annum.” On the motion of the Bishop of Nelson, seconded by Mr. Mackay, the above report was unanimously adopted. Dr. Williams then read a paper descriptive of a Fox Shark which had been caught in the Bay, and which belonged to the genus Alopias. Three photographs of the animal were exhibited.

Annual Meeting. July 6, 1870. The Bishop of Nelson, Vice President, in the chair. This being the first Annual Meeting of the Association, the Secretary read the report of the Committee for the past year.

First Meeting. August 3, 1870. Dr. Williams in the chair. Mr. Lee gave a lecture, “On the History of Astronomical Science prior to the time of Nicholas Copernicus.” Second Meeting. September 7, 1870. The Bishop of Nelson, Vice President, in the chair. The question of affiliation with the New Zealand Institute was discussed, and the following resolution carried unanimously :—“That proper steps be taken at once for the purpose of affiliating this Association with the New Zealand Institute.” The Vice President read a letter from a gentleman who had formerly derived great benefit from bathing in the Hanmer Plain Hot Springs. Third Meeting. October 5, 1870. Sir D. Monro, President in the chair. A letter, from Dr. Hector to the Bishop of Nelson, was read, acknowledging the receipt of the communication relative to the incorporation of this Association with the New Zealand Institute, and promising to lay the same before the Board of Governors at their next meeting. Dr. Irvine reported the progress made by the Committee in their negotiations with the Nelson Institute, and read the terms of agreement made by the Committees of both Societies. Fourth (Extraordinary) Meeting. October 27, 1870. Dr. Williams in the chair. The Chairman stated that the meeting had been called for the purpose of nominating a member of the Society to vote in the election of

Governors of the New Zealand Institute, in accordance with Clause 7 of the Institute Act. On the motion of Dr. Irvine, seconded by Mr. Mackay, the Bishop of Nelson was appointed. Fifth Meeting. November 2, 1870. The Bishop of Nelson, Vice President, in the chair. Mr. Joseph Mackay was elected a member of the Association. 1. Mr. F. Simmons then read a paper, “On the best means of Diffusing and Promoting Higher Education in this Colony.” (See Transactions.) A long discussion took place, in which the Bishop of Nelson, Captain Rough, Mr. Hunter Brown, Dr. Irvine, Mr. Luckie, Mr. Sclanders, Mr. Levestam, and the President, took part. 2. The President mentioned that a stag had been seen by some men on Mr. Kerr's run, near Lake Rotoiti, in the act of shedding his antlers, which they afterwards found and brought away. Sixth Meeting. December 7, 1870. Dr. Williams in the chair. The following new members were elected:—J. C. Richmond, J. T. Lowe, A. S. Atkinson, John Sharp, W. C. Hodgson, — Holloway, Joseph Webb, Joseph Harley, Rev.—Thorp, Dr. Greenwood, and Felix Wakefield, F.L.S. 1. A letter from Dr. Haast was read drawing attention to the difference in the temperature of the Hot Springs of the Hanmer Plain as recorded by Dr. Hector and by himself, and inferring that the temperature varies at different seasons of the year. (See Transactions.) 2. Three gentlemen were nominated for election as Honorary Members of the New Zealand Institute. 3. Mr. Huddleston laid on the table three specimens of the New Zealand Land Snail (Helix Hochstetteri),—one presented to the Association by Mr. Reuben Waite, was found by him at an elevation of 4500 feet above the level of the sea,—the others were found in the Picton bush, and presented by Miss Seymour. 4. Mr. John Avery then exhibited his apparatus for detecting the presence of heat in the interior of bales of wool, flax, etc., and read a paper in which he described a practical method of using the thermometer for ascertaining the temperature of cargo after being stowed.