The Philosophical Institute of Canterbury.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 19, 1886, Unnumbered Page

The Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. Popular Lecture No. 1: 28th April, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. “Recent Advances in Electricity,” by Professor Bickerton, F.C.S. First Meeting: 6th May, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. New Member.—Mr. T. H. Foster, M.A. Papers.—1. “On the Geology of the Country between Oamaru and Moeraki,” by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 415.) 2. “Note on the Geology of the Valley of the Waihao,” by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 430.) Second Meeting: 2nd June, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. The President announced that Mr. C. Chilton had resigned his position as Secretary, owing to his removal to Dunedin; that the Council had accepted his resignation with regret, and had accorded him a hearty vote of thanks for his services to the Institute. Paper.—“The Geology of the Trelissick or Broken River Basin, Selwyn County,” by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 392.) Popular Lecture, No. 2: 14th June, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. “The Life and Works of Ivan Turgenieff,” by Miss Lohse.

Third Meeting: 5th August, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. New Member.—Mr. W. Dinwiddie. Papers.—1. “On the Opening Lines of the Antigone of Sophocles,” by Professor F. W. Haslam, M.A. (Transactions, p. 504.) 2. “Observations on the Development of Flower of Coriaria ruscifolia,” by Mr. T. W. Rowe, M.A. Communicated by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 317.) Popular Lecture, No. 3: 30th August, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. “The volcanic Eruption in the North Island,” by Professor Hutton, F.G.S. Fourth Meeting: 3rd September, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. New Members.—Messrs. G. J. Anderson, C. J. Frank, and H. Wilson. Papers.—1. “On the Age and Subdivisions of the Sedimentary Rocks in the Canterbury Mountains,” by Sir Julius von Haast, K.C.M.G., F.R.S., D.Sc., Ph.D. (Transactions, p. 449.) Professor Hutton criticised the paper, on the ground that the researches of the Baron von Ettingshausen, which formed the basis of the paper, bore out the views of Dr. Hector rather than those advocated by Sir J. von Haast. 2. “Observations on the Glands in the Leaf and Stem of the Ngaio,” by Miss C. Alexander, B.A. Communicated by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 314.) The President announced that the Institute, having been asked to take part in the formation of an Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, to be inaugurated in celebration of the centenary of the founding of the Colony of New South Wales, had appointed Mr. S. H. Cox, F.C.S., F.G.S., to represent them at the preliminary meetings about to be held in Sydney. Fifth Meeting: 7th October, 1886. Professor F. W. Hutton, F.G.S., in the chair. New Members.—Dr. Hunt, Captain Garcia, Mr. W. T. Charlewood.

Papers.—1. “Transcendental Geometry and Mr. Frank-land,” by Mr. G. Hogben, M.A. (Transactions, p. 510.) 2. “Notes on the Anatomy of the Limpet,” by Mr. J. A. Newell, B.A. (Transactions, p. 157.) 3. “On the New Zealand Noctuina,” by Mr. E. Meyrick, B.A., F.E.S. (Transactions, p. 3.) Popular Lecture, No. 4: 11th October, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. “What is Art, and Who are Artists?” by Mr. S. Hurst-Seager, A.R.I.B.A. Annual Meeting: 4th November, 1886. Dr. W. H. Symes, President, in the chair. New Member.—Mr, G. Anderson. Papers.—1. “On the so-called Gabbro of the Dun Mountain,” by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 412.)

Abstract. Six ordinary meetings have been held, at which 10 papers have been read. During the year 12 new members have joined the Institute, but 31 have retired. At present the number on the books is 116. Several additions have been made to the library, and an order for a considerable number of new books has lately been sent to London. Mr. S. H. Cox, F.G.S., has been appointed to represent the Institute at the preliminary meetings of the proposed Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, to be held in Sydney. The balance-sheet shows: Total receipts, £146 8s.; total expenditure, £105 14s. 3d., leaving a credit balance of £40 13s. 9d. The reserve, consisting of the subscriptions of life-members, is now £59 16s. 9d.