Nelson Philosophical Society.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 22, 1889, Unnumbered Page

Nelson Philosophical Society. First Meeting: 4th April, 1889. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. The President addressed the meeting on his re-election to that office. Exhibits.—The Curator exhibited a specimen of Germantinder (Polyporus fomentarius) presented by Mr. Martin, of Pigeon Valley. The Secretary exhibited a European specimen of the same, describing its uses in medicine and its commercial value. The Curator exhibited specimens—viz., awaruite, gold-bearing quartz from Collingwood, aragonite and fossil shells from the same place. The President exhibited a beautiful specimen of Eucalyptus ficifolia in blossom. Paper.—“The Wattle-blight (Icerya purchasi) in Tasmania, and its Natural Enemies,” by James Hudson, M.B. Lond. (Transactions, p. 176.) Second Meeting: 4th June, 1889. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. Exhibit.—The Curator exhibited a photograph of the total eclipse of the sun (1st January, 1889), presented by the Director of the Lick Observatory.

Third Meeting: 8th July, 1889. A. S. Atkinson, Vice-president, in the chair. New Members.—Rev. F. W. Chatterton, and J. W. Joynt, M.A., Principal of Nelson College. Exhibits.—The Curator exhibited a Queensland war-club, specimens of asbestos from Mount Arthur, sago-palm nuts from Fiji, also skins of kiwi and kakapo.

A letter was read by the Secretary from Mr. Park, of the Geological Department, stating many of the advantages the Nelson District possessed for original scientific research. Paper.—“Mind and Matter,” by James Caird, D.D., D.C.L., Principal of the University of Glasgow, read before the British Medical Association, 1888.

Fourth Meeting: 12th August, 1889. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. Exhibits.—Curious growth in an Arum, bloom being in triplicate, reported by Rev. A. R. Watson; specimens of fungi, Polyporus fomentarius, Colenso, exhibited by Mr. Hugh Martin, jun.; whale-barnacles, Coronula diadema, brittle star-fish, Trochus, Calcar imperialis, paper-nautili, Haliotis, bone tail of stingaree, sharks eggs, teeth of fishes, jaw-plates of ditto, Struthiolaria, sea-horse, manuka showing markings by a cicada, all from Picton, exhibited by the Curator.

Fifth Meeting: 16th September, 1889. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. Exhibits.—Drawing of fresh-water Medusa, exhibited by the President, found in tank in Botanic Gardens, London; also fossils, by Mr. Harris, of Kumara; oxidized iron-pyrites and geological specimens, by Mr. Washbourne; fine specimen of flax, dressed by native women, by Miss Gascoigne. Paper.—“A Theory on the Formation of Gold into Specks and Nuggets,” by H. P. Washbourne. (Transactions, p. 400.) Annual Meeting: 5th November, 1889. The Bishop of Nelson, President, in the chair. New Member.—T. Blake-Huffam.