Wellington Philosophical Society.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 36, 1903, Unnumbered Page

Wellington Philosophical Society. First Meeting: 3rd June, 1903. Professor Easterfield, President, in the chair. New Members.—G. M. Mason, J. Lewis, A. H. Gore, C Freyberg, and W. F. Robinson. Before proceeding with his address, Professor Easterfield thanked the members for electing him to the position of President for the ensuing year. He would endeavour to justify their selection. The President then read a notice (prepared by Sir James Hector) of the late W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., which referred to his long connection with the Society, and concluded by moving as follows, members standing during the reading of the motion:— That a formal entry of the foregoing notice be made on the records of the Society, which sets forth a recognition of the great services which have been rendered to science by the late W. T. L. Travels, F.L.S., and that copies be forwarded, with an expression of sympathy, to his relatives. Reference was also made to the loss sustained by the death of two prominent members of the Society—viz., Major-General Schaw and the Hon. Dr. Grace. Professor Easterfield then delivered his presidential address, “A Hundred Years in the History of a Theory,” which was listened to with great attention. On the motion of Mr. Hogben, a hearty vote of thanks was given to Professor Easterfield for his address. Second Meeting: 1st July, 1903. Professor Easterfield, President, in the chair. Mr. H. N. McLeod read a paper, illustrated by photographs, on “Caves and Water-passages in the Greymouth District.” He had made an exploration, necessarily hasty, of some of these caves, and described the result of his investigation. Originally, he thought, these caves were formed by percolation of water from above—a view confirmed by the discovery of the seeds of Phormium tenax clinging to the sides. This process still went on. Their general trend was downwards, and they served as overflow-channels carrying the flood-waters by subterranean passages to the Grey River.

Sir James Hector said he knew the caves, which were of interest on account of fossil remains recovered from thorn, including bones of the Paleudyptes, an extinct penguin over 7.ft. high. The limestone formation in which these caves occurred overlaid the great coal-measures of the Grey district. He described the remarkable fault in the limestone range, which had developed into a rift 700 ft. deep, through which, in ancient times, the waters of the Grey had been diverted from their former channel. Mr. C. E. Adams exhibited some of the powers of a calculating-machine by a Russian inventor, which possessed remarkable powers of multiplying, dividing, summing up successive totals, and extracting roots. Sir James Hector said that twenty five years ago Mr. Leonard Stowe, Clerk to the General Assembly, devised and patented a very similar piece of mechanism. He still possessed the original model. The President, said the machine illustrated what a purely mechanical, operation computation really was. The amount of unnecessary drudgery saved by a machine such as this to those who had to deal continually with large figures, besides its freedom from liability to error, made it exceedingly valuable. It was an interesting fact that many illustrious mathematicians were deficient in the mechanical skill necessary to compute correctly. He mentioned several great names, including Holmholtz, who, as he would insist on doing his own blackboard-work when lecturing, usually made an error in his first attempt at multiplication, and spent a good part of the rest of his time in trying to find where it occurred. The President, Professor Easterfield, exhibited a tool in the now “high-speed steel,” forwarded by a friend in Sheffield. He said that the now steel, which promised to bring about vast industrial changes, as it could do such work as the turning of propeller-shafts at five times the rate of the best ordinary steel, owed its quality to the admixture of a small but definite proportion of tungsten, and possibly of chromium, and also to a difference in manufacture. Ordinary steel wan spoiled if heated beyond a dull red; the new steel was heated to whiteness, and cooled simply by a steady blast of cold air. Water was necessary in grinding ordinary steel; it must not be used with the new, which was ground dry on an emery wheel, red-hot sparks flying off the while. If overheated in working steel tools became useless; the now steel tools had been shown at work hot with friction, and swiftly winding off blue shavings from a rotary shaft. He was pleased to say that this vast improvement had been brought about by British firms. Sir James Hector remarked that scheelite and wolfram, the ores yielding tungsten, were abundant in Now Zealand. Sir James Hector explained a number of natural-history exhibits, including the rare South Pacific cod, a stray specimen of which is sometimes stranded at Island Bay after a gale; and a German owl, only distinguishable from the morepork of Australasia by a lighter colour in the plumage of the back. Sir James Hector said that, with the permission of the meeting, he would like to make a few remarks. He said,— It is thirty-five years since I was first connected with this Society. I now have to leave. I suppose I shall never have the opportunity of meeting you again. It is a great strain. But these things cannot be avoided. We grow old, and have to leave the field to younger and bettor men. I do

feel it my duty to express my thanks for the kind manner in which you have always sustained me in the work I have had to do. It has some-times been hard and cross-grained, but I have always met with the greatest kindness and appreciation of such merit as the work I have contributed has possessed. I ask you, sir, to receive my thanks to the Society. The President, Professor Easterfield, said: Ladies and Gentleman, Sir James Hector has just alluded to his long connection with this Society, and has referred to the fact that he is about to leave us. The Society sincerely hopes that on many future occasions it may have the privilege of his presence and assistance. He is about to leave us on a trip to Canada, but we look forward to only a temporary separation from our old and trusted friend. I feel sure that we all look forward earnestly to the time when we shall have him back among us, refreshed by rest and change of scene, and with his health and old energy restored. The strum upon him of the Institute and its duties has for some time past been too severe. I am only expressing the feelings of all present when I say that we are looking forward with pleasure to the time when we shall welcome him among us once more. Third Meeting: 5th August, 1903. The President, Professor Easterfield, in the chair. Mr. Martin Chapman proposed, and Mr. Hogben seconded, That the President be instructed to expend the sum of ten guineas in a suitable memento in appreciation of the services of the late Secretary.—Carried. Papers.—1. “On the Fallacies of the Metric System,” pt. i., by B. Coupland Harding. 2. “On the Occurrence of certain Lepidoptera in Southland,” by A. Philpott; communicated by G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. Exhibits.—1. Brown trout, weight 29 lb. (kindly lent by the Superintendent, Tourist Department). 2. Esquimaux camelito or parkee (rain-coat). 3. New Zealand weta (Deinacrida thoracica). Fourth Meeting: 2nd September, 1903. The President, Professor Easterfield, in the chair. Presentation.—In pursuance of a resolution passed at the last meeting of the Society, the President presented to Mr. R. B. Gore, the late Secretary of the Society, some handsome pieces of plate, bearing an inscription indicating that they are a memento of Mr. Gore's services to the Society from 1873 to 1903. In a letter of thanks Mr. Gore expressed his appreciation of the gift and the good wishes for his restoration to health, which, he regretted to say, was still very unsatisfactory.

Papers.—1. “Notes on an Insect found in some Hot Springs at Taupo,” by J. W. Poynton. The insect, which is present in large quantities all the year round, is about half the size of a house-fly, but more slender and shapely, and is black in colour. It apparently builds natural incubators, and is said to be an undescribed species. Mr. Poynton suggested a number of questions for study by competent scientists, including the great possibility of the important part these insects and their habits have played and are playing in the formation of terraces. In the course of a discussion Professor H. B. Kirk expressed the opinion that Mr. Poynton's observations were of great scientific and economic value. If the suggestion as to the formation of terraces was correct there was at once presented the possibility of importing these flies to places where they did not now exist. In regard to insect and animal life in hot springs, Professor Kirk said there was no doubt that fish at Rotorua, for instance, went into water quite hot enough to cook them, and though they were not cooked they grew coarse and ugly. Professor Easterfield thought the Research Fund might well be devoted to further investigation of such an important matter as Mr. Poynton's suggestion. 2. “On Rimu-resin,” by Professor Easterfield and B. C. Aston. This paper included the results of some preliminary investigations by the Professor and Mr. B. C. Aston, Chemist to the Agricultural Department. The resin, when chewed, has a very bitter taste, and is very much simpler than the complicated kauri-resin. It dissolves very easily in alcohol; and if water be cautiously added to the solution a beautiful crystalline substance comes out, which is an acid, and which has been given the name of “rimuic acid.” This melts at 192° Centigrade. The resin consists of 75 per cent. of rimuic acid, and the greater part of the remainder, after the acid has been precipitated, consists of a gum which up to the present the investigators have not further investigated, while the pink colouring is a vegetable bitter. Most of the pines when their bark is cut weep resin, but the rimu, he was informed did not do so as it had its resin right in the heart of the wood. The Professor went into a detailed explanation, and said it appeared that the chemistry of this resin was not so complicated as it was believed by many to be. He hoped to go into the subject of kauri-resin when he had disposed of the rimu. In the ensuing discussion the speakers emphasized the importance of the investigations being made. Mr. Gerald Fitzgerald quoted actual experience to show that the rimu did not possess the preservative qualities it was supposed to possess; but Mr. Poynton held an opposite opinion of the value of the resin as a preservative, based on his own observations. Exhibits.—1. Birds from South Africa. 2. Moa-bones. 3. Bill of hornbill. Fifth Meeting: 7th October, 1903. The President, Professor Easterfield, in the chair. New Members.—Rev. D. C. Bates and Mr. M. H. Browne. Papers.—1. “On the Fallacies of the Metric System,” pt. ii., by R. Coupland Harding.

2. “On Adjustment of Triangulation by Least Squares,” pt. ii., by C. E. Adams, B.Sc. 3. “Notes on Southern Lepidoptera,” by Alfred Philpott. 4. “Molecular Association and the Arrangement of Atoms in Space,” by C. W. Robertson. Exhibits.—1. Corean duck. 2. Nails found in gizzard of duck. 3. Cast of diorite mere (original stolen from Maori House on the 12th September, 1903). 4. Rabbit with peculiar growth of teeth. 5. Green linnets (male and female). 6. New Zealand tree-lizard. 7. Petrological microscope (Mr. Adams). Sixth Meeting: 4th November, 1903. The President, Professor Easterfield, in the chair. Papers.—1. “Notes on some Curiously Carved Maori Calabashes,” by Dr. Newman (with exhibits). The exhibits consisted of two fine specimens of calabashes recently acquired by the writer, one, unfortunately, broken in transit, from the Wairarapa district. Apart from their unusual size, they were remarkable on account of their being fitted with elaborately decorated collars or necks, carved out of matai wood. As their use was for the preservation of birds, &c., in their own fat, they were very greasy, within and without. The larger, when filled, would weigh neatly a hundredweight. Each was fully equipped with the original kete (called “kit” by the pakeha), an open net of phormium leaves gathered into a handle above for convenience of carriage. Dr. Newman explained the use of the hue, or calabash, gourd, among the old natives. Some with carved collars were still to be found in the Urewera country, but were rare and highly prized. These particular specimens had been found in an outhouse in the Wairarapa district, the modern native in contact with civilisation preferring kerosene-tins. The Maori owner said they had belonged to his grandfather, a chief, whom he remembered as nearly a century old. All the Museum specimens appeared to have lost the carved collar. It was called by the Maoris tuki or kohamohamo. The words might be synonymous, or might refer to different varieties; they were not in existing dictionaries. Calabashes had been much neglected by collectors. Those now before the meeting were used only by chiefs, and formed the central object at feasts, containing, as they did, the choicest delicacies for the invited guests. The Maoris said they had brought the seed of the calabash from “Hawaiki,” and that no such large gourds as those of olden time could now be grown. The President and other members expressed their indebtedness to Dr. Newman for his paper, and he, in the course of his reply, added farther information on the subject. 2. “Notes on Aconitic Acid,” by James Bee; communicated by Professor Easterfield.

The writer had been investigating this acid (characteristic of the aconite plant, or monk's-hood, but which in the arts is obtained from citric acid), and had discovered some interesting reactions—one almost unique in chemical experience—which were described. By an accidental oversight in preparing the acid—boiling a solution for ten hours instead of five—he found he had obtained an acid of quite different character. This, submitted to the usual tests, proved to be diconic acid. This discovery, Professor Easterfield explained, was of importance. Diconic acid, owing to the tedious process necessary for its production—long boiling in closed tubes, under pressure, having been necessary—had been little studied. Mr. Bee had now opened the path for any one who wished to investigate the subject, as the acid could now be readily prepared in open vessels, and in any quantity required. 3. “Notes on some New Lepidoptera from Lake Wakatipu,” by G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. (with exhibits). Exhibit.—Professor Easterfield exhibited a hot-air engine, and explained its use. Seventh Meeting: 17th December, 1903. The President, Professor Easterfield, in the chair. Governors of New Zealand Institute.—On the motion of Mr. G. Hogben, seconded by Mr. A. McKay, Professor Easterfield and Mr. Martin Chapman were appointed to represent the Society on the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. Paper.—“On Anatomy of Paryphanta fumosa,” by R. Murdoch. Annual Meeting: 13th April, 1904. Professor Easterfield, President, in the chair. New Member.— Alfred Cockayne. The annual report and balance-sheet was read and approved. The receipts were given as £176 14s. 2d., and the expenditure £103 5s. 2d., leaving a balance in hand of £112 4s. 9d. Election of Officers for 1904.—President—Professor Easterfield; Vice-Presidents—G. Hogben, M.A., and E. Tregear, F.R.G.S.; Council—R. C. Harding, G. V. Hudson, F.E.S., Professor H. B. Kirk, C. E. Adams, B.Sc., Sir James Hector, F.R.S., Martin Chapman, and C. T. Richardson. Papers.—1. “On the Occurrence of Starch in Timber,” by Professor Kirk. 2. “On the Constitution of some Resin-acids,” by Professor Easterfield.