Philosophical Institute of Canterbury.

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

Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. First Meeting: 6th May, 1903. Dr. Charles Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Messrs. E. G. Hogg, E. Cuthburt, Rev A. C. Carrington, and Dr Finch. Address.—The retiring President, Mr. J. B. Mayne, delivered his address on “Bacteria and Fermentation,” and illustrated it by diagrams and specimens. Second Meeting: 3rd June, 1903. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Messrs. M. G. Wallich and L. Birks. Resolution.—The President proposed, and Captain F. W. Hutton seconded, and it was unanimously resolved,— That the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, heating that Sir James Hector is retiring from his official position as Director of the Geological Surrey and Manager of the New Zealand Institute after thirty-five years of service, desires to express its appreciation of the skilful and efficient manner in which he has discharged the many varied duties of his office during his long term of service. As Manager of the New Zealand Institute and Editor of its Transactions he has had a most arduous and difficult task to perform, and one calling for a wide knowledge on a great variety of subjects, and the thirty-five volumes of the Transactions form a permanent record of the able manner in which he has performed the work allotted to him. The Institute trusts that he may still be spared for many years to devote his leisure to the further advancement of science. Address.—Mr. E. G. Hogg delivered an address on “The Falls of Niagara—a Geological Study,” illustrating it with a large number of lantern-slides. Third Meeting: 1st July, 1903. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Mrs. A. Anderson and Messrs. J. R. Charlton, C. Carmichael, and A. Kaye. Address.—Mr. R. Nairne delivered an address, illustrated by lantern-slides, on “Horticulture in New Zealand.”

Fourth Meeting: 5th August, 1903. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—The Right Rev. Bishop Grimes and Messrs. W. E. Burley, W. Colbatch, W. R. Haselden, and W. H. Moyes. Address.—Mr. A. R. Craddock gave an address, illustrated by experiments and lantern-slides, on “The Induction of Electric Currents.” Fifth Meeting: 2nd September, 1903. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Member.—Dr. Hugh Acland. The President congratulated Dr. L. Cockayne on the honour which had been conferred upon him by the Ancient University of Munich. Address.—Professor W. P. Evans delivered an address, illustrated by experiments and lantern-slides, on “The Liquefaction of Gases.” Sixth Meeting: 7th October, 1903. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Messrs. P. Trolove and C. J. Williams. Address.—Mr. R. Speight gave an address, illustrated by diagrams, on “A Chapter in Canterbury Geology.” Seventh Meeting: 4th November, 1903. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. Papers.—1. “A Botanical Excursion during Midwinter to the Southern Islands of New Zealand,” by, Dr. L. Cockayne. 2. “Plants naturalised in the County of Ashburton,” by Mr. W. W. Smith. 3. “Note on a Dyke at Nugget Point,” by Mr. R. Speight. 4. “A Species of Ixodes parasitic on the Grey Duck,” by Dr. C. Chilton. 5. “Revision of the New Zealand Members of the Phorocera,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. 6. “On the Occurrence of Centrolophus in New Zealand,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S.

7. “Description of a New Fish,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. 8. “On the Occurrence of the Curlew-Sandpiper in New Zealand,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. 9. “Two New Flies,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. 10. “On a New Weta from the Chatham Islands,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. 11. “Description of a New Blowfly from Campbell Island,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S. Exhibits.—The following exhibits were laid before the meeting:—By Mr. E. G. Hogg: Some symmetrical nodules from Tasmania. By Mr. T. W. Adams: A branch of laburnum having both purple and yellow flowers. By Dr. Coleridge Farr: The trace of the vertical-force magnetograph during the recent magnetic storm. Special Meeting: 25th November, 1903. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. The meeting was called to amend the laws in conformity with “The New Zealand Institute Act, 1903.” Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S., and Dr. Chilton were elected to represent the Institute on the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. Annual Meeting: 25th November, 1903. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Member.—Mr. G. W. Kirkaldy. Abstract of Annual Report. The Council met twelve times since the previous annual meeting. The retirement of Sir James Hector, K.C.M.G., from the position of Manager of the New Zealand Institute caused the Council to consider what changes were desirable in the constitution of the New Zealand Institute. After correspondence with the other institutes, and a deputation having waited upon the Colonial Secretary, the Council drafted a Bill, which, with few amendments, has since become law. The “Index Faunæ Novæ-Zealandiæ” is nearing completion, and the first bound copy was laid on the table. The library has been kept in a state of efficiency. The thanks of the Institute are due to the Hon C. C. Bowen, who has represented the Institute on the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute, and to Mr. G. E. Way, F.I.A.N.Z., for his services as honorary auditor.

The balance-sheet for the period from the 1st January, 1903, to the October, 1903, shows that £42 10s. has been received for members' subscriptions, £23 4s. 3d. has been spent in the purchase of books and periodicals for the library, and £10 11s. 9d. for binding completed volumes. The credit balance on the 31st October was £76 14s. 9d., but this includes £50 from Captain Hutton for the purchase of 100 copies of the “Index Faunæ Novæ-Zealandiæ.” The No. 2 Account, “Life Members' Sub scriptions,” shows a credit balance of £82 6s. 2d., the interest on which at 3 ½ per cent. accrued on the 21st November, 1903. The number of members of the Institute is eighty-five and two associates, and the average attendance at the meetings of the past year has been thirty-nine. Six addresses (enumerated above) and twelve papers have been read before the Institute during the year The papers may be classified as—zoology, 8 papers; botany, 2; and geology, 2. Election of Officers for 1904.—President—Professor Charles Chilton, D.Sc., M.A., M.B., &c.; Vice-Presidents—Mr. J. B. Mayne, B.A., and Mr. R. Speight, M.A., B.Sc.; Honorary Secretary—Dr. Coleridge Farr, A.M.I.C.E.; Honorary Treasurer—Professor Charles Chilton, M.A., M.B., D.Sc.; Council—Mr. R. M. Laing, M A., B.Sc., Captain F. W. Hutton, F.R.S., President New Zealand Institute, Dr. W. P. Evans, M.A., Dr Cockayne, Mr. E. G. Hogg, M.A., Mr. A. E. Flower, M.A., B.Sc.