Otago Institute.

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

Otago Institute. First Meeting: 12th May, 1903. The President, Mr. A. Hamilton, delivered his presidential address dealing with the relation of the Government to various scientific projects, such as the erection of bench-marks around the coast, hydrographic surveys, magnetic surveys, marine biological station, sylviculture, &c., and especially with the proposed Maori Museum, concerning which he had issued a circular to the members of the House of Representatives detailing the functions and arrangement of such a museum. This valuable address was printed in extenso in the Otago Daily Times. Second Meeting: 9th June, 1903. Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. Professor Benham read a paper on “An Apparently New Species of Regalecus (R. parkeri),” and exhibited an excellent painted cast of the fish, executed by Mr. E. Jennings, the taxidermist of the Museum. Professor Benham exhibited specimens of a new leech recently obtained at Open Bay Island during a biological, excursion by Messrs. L. Cockayne and Dunlop; and a paper entitled “A New Species of Leech (Hirudo antipodum) recently discovered in New Zealand” was laid on the table. Professor Park read a paper, “The Jurassic Age of the Maitai Formation,” which was subjected to criticism by Dr. P. Marshall. Dr. P. Marshall laid on the table a paper on “The Boulders in Triassic Conglomerate at Nelson,” of which he gave an epitome. Mr. C. S. S. Cooper read a paper on “A New Experiment in Light.” Professor Park urged the Council of the Institute to take steps to induce the Government to erect, at suitable places along the coast, bench-marks, in order that accurate information as to the secular movements by land and sea might be available for future observers. The President promised that the Council should proceed in the matter.

Third Meeting: 14th July, 1903. Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. Paper.—“Provencal Troubadours,” by Professor T. G. R. Blunt. Fourth Meeting: 11th August, 1903. Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. The President exhibited a specimen of Sirex found imbedded in some “moulding” imported from America, and made remarks on its life-history as illustrating the manner in which insects may be dispersed from one country to another. Professor Benham exhibited a fine specimen of Aturia ziczac var. australis, recently presented to the Museum by Mr. A Hamilton, who had obtained it at Wharekuri. Amongst other exhibits were specimens of the above fossil in various conditions of fossilisation, which had been remounted to show their characteristics; also, a live lizard, apparently a new species of Lygosoma, the pouched form of Geotria, and other recent additions to the Museum. Professor Benham gave a résumé of a paper on “The Oligochæta of the New Zealand Lakes,” founded on the material collected by Mr. Keith Lucas during his recent biological survey. Professor Park read a paper on “The Subdivisions of the New Zealand Trias,” which was discussed by the President, Dr. Marshall, and Professor Benham. Fifth Meeting: 8th September, 1903. Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. A paper on “The Sparrow Plague and its Remedy” was read by Mr. A Bathgate, in which the author advocated the introduction of certain birds, such as shrikes, which in America prey upon sparrows. A discussion ensued, in which members of the Otago Acclimatisation Society (by invitation) took part, as well as Messrs. G. M. Thomson, Gilkison, and Benham, all of whom strongly deprecated this method of meeting the annoyance.

Sixth Meeting: 13th October, 1903. Mr. George M. Thomson, Vice-President, in the chair. Mr. C. S. S. Cooper gave an interesting account of the recent researches by Rutherford, Curie, and others on “Radium and Radio-activity.” Papers.—1. “On the Physical Properties of Kauri-gum,” by Mr. Cooper. 2. “A Supposed Heat Effect,” by Mr. Cooper. 3. “On the Regeneration of Cyanide-solutions,” by Mr. Doveton; communicated by Professor Park. 4. “Notes on a Small Collection of Fossils from Wharekuri,” by Mr. A. Hamilton. 5. “Notes on Old Native Settlements in various Parts of Murihiku,” by Mr. A. Hamilton. (See “Handbook of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science,” Dunedin, 1904.) 6. “On Abnormal Developments in New Zealand Ferns; with a List of Papers by various Authors on the Ferns of New Zealand,” by Mr. A. Hamilton. 7. “List of Papers and Notices on Botanical Subjects in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute and other Publications,” by Mr. A. Hamilton. 8. “On the Discovery of a Permo-carboniferous Formation at Mount Mary, in North Otago,” by Professor Park. 9. “On the Geology of the North Head at Waikouaiti,” by Professor Park. 10. “Effect of Temperature on Gold-cyanide Solutions,” by Mr. D. B. Waters. Annual Meeting: 3rd December, 1903. Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. Papers.—1. “Notes on some Extinct Birds recently found near Ngapara,” by Mr. A. Hamilton. 2. “Moriori Carving on the Trunks of Karaka-trees,” by Mr. A. Hamilton. 3. “Second Supplement to Materials for a Bibliography of the Dinornithidœ,” by Mr. A. Hamilton. 4. “The Sipunculids of New Zealand,” by Professor Benham.

Annual Report. Since the last report your Council has met nine times for the transaction of business. During the year Mr. Justice Chapman and Mr. Chamberlain forwarded resignations as members of the Council, but, in view of the near approach of the annual general meeting, it was not considered necessary to fill their places on the committee. Your Council desires to place on record its high appreciation of the work of Mr. Justice Chapman, who has been a member of the Council for twenty years. During the year five members of the Institute have resigned, and five new members have been elected. The total number of members is 112. The present session has included seven general meetings. At one of these Professor T. G. R. Blunt, of Canterbury College, read a paper on “Provencal Troubadours,” which was highly appreciated by a large attendance of members. A paper by Mr. A. Bathgate on “The Sparrow Plague” also excited general interest; and the Council wishes to record its sense of obligation to Mr. James Allen for consenting to deliver a lecture on “The Cook Islands” as a fitting close to the session. The Council wishes to draw the attention of members to the forthcoming meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, to be held in Dunedin on the 10th January, 1901. It is hoped that all members of the Institute will co-operate in making the meeting as successful as possible. Since the last annual meeting the resignation of Sir James Hector has necessitated a change in the legislation under which the New Zealand Institute and its affiliated local institutes were constituted. A Bill has lately passed through Parliament giving effect to various changes that were suggested by the Council of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute and approved by your Council and other bodies. The most important changes are—(1) More direct representation of the local institutes on the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute; (2) the appointment of the President of the New Zealand Institute and the Editor of the Transactions by the Board of Governors. In accordance with the provisions of this Bill your Council has appointed Messrs. G. M. Thomson and A. Hamilton as our representatives on the Board of Governors. The important work, the “Index Faunæ Novæw-Zealandiæ,” undertaken by Captain Hutton and the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, is completed. A few advance copies have been received in Christchurch, and no doubt the work will be ready for distribution shortly. In regard to the marine-fish hatchery, Mr. George M. Thomson, as the Institute's representative, reports that work has proceeded satisfactorily. A large concrete tank for supplying water to the hatching-house, &c., has been constructed, an enclosure has been made for two ponds for breeding fish, and a site cleared for the erection of the building which is to contain the hatching-house, aquarium-house, and laboratory. This building and a house for the caretaker are now in course of erection, and it is expected that they will be completed by the end of the year. Fittings for the laboratory and hatching-house have been ordered from Europe and America, and it is intended to open the station during the forthcoming meeting of the Australasian Association. Your Council has so far paid over £100 of the £250 promised to this undertaking. A list of volumes added to the library was appended. The balance-sheet, duly audited, was also adopted. Abstract. The receipts for the year, including a balance brought forward of £51 19s. 2s., amount to £103 19s.; the expenses were £79 18b. 2d.: leaving a balance of £34 11b. 11d. in the hands of the banker.

Election of Officers for 1904.—President—Dr. Benham-; Vice-Presidents—Dr. T. M. Hocken and Mr. J. C. Thomson; Council—Messrs. A. Bathgate, Dr. Colquhoun, J. S. S. Cooper, Professor Park, G. M. Thomson, D. B. Waters, and R. Gilkison; Secretary—Dr. Marshall; Treasurer—Mr. W. Fels; Auditor—Mr. D. Brent. Professor Benham congratulated Mr. Hamilton on his appointment to the Directorship of the Colonial Museum, and expressed his indebtedness to him for many kindnesses shown to him personally and to the Museum, as well as regret at the loss which the Institute would sustain on his departure to Wellington. Mr. G. M. Thomson and Professor Park also spoke in appreciatory terms of Mr. Hamilton's services to the Institute as office-bearer and member of Council. It had been arranged that Mr. James Allen, M.H.R., should give a lecture on “The Cook Islands,” but owing to a mishap with the lantern the lecture had to be interrupted, and it was delivered to a large audience at a special meeting on the 8th December.