Philosophical Institute of Canterbury.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 37, 1904, Unnumbered Page

Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. First Meeting: 4th May, 1904. Dr. Charles Chilton, President, in the chair. The President welcomed Messrs. Hodgson, Armitage, and Morrison, of the National Antarctic Expedition, who were present. The President also announced the arrival of copies of the “Index Faunæ Novæ-zealandiæ,” and on behalf of the Council of the Canterbury Institute, and of the Council of the Otago Institute, and of the various contributors to the Index, presented Captain Hutton (the editor of the Index) with a bound volume of congratulatory letters on the occasion of its publication. The President read the presidential address on “Arctic and Antarctic Faunas.” Mr. F. V. Hodgson exhibited some marine zoological specimens from the extreme south. Lieutenant Armitage exhibited the instruments from the “Discovery” for the determination of the magnetic elements at sea. Dr. Farr exhibited a parallel series of curves obtained by Mr. Bernacchi in Antarctica and at the Magnetic Observatory, Christchurch. Second Meeting: 6th June, 1904. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Mr. O. B. Pemberton, Rev. A. C. Hoggins, J. S. Tennant, C. J. Sloman, F. V. Hodgson, H. G. Denham, J. J. Collins, Dr. J. Stevenson, Captain F. M. B. Fisher, E. Stead, Dr. H. M. Inglis, J. Hight, Miss Freeman, and Miss Fodor. Address by Mr. L. Birks, A.M.Inst.C.E., on “An Electrical Engineer's Visit to Switzerland.” Third Meeting: 6th July, 1904. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Rev. C. H. Moreland, Dr. A. G. Talbot, Mr. E. M. Sandstein, and Mr. Alaster Wright. Address.—Mr. Cyrus Williams, M.Inst.C.E., gave an address on the “Artesian System of Queensland.”

Fourth Meeting: 3rd August, 1904. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Dr. B. M. Moorehouse, Dr. Gibson, and Mr. C. D. Hardie. Papers.—1. “A Revision of the Tertiary Brachiopods of New Zealand,” by Captain Hutton. (Transactions, p. 474.) 2. “Three New Tertiary Shells,” by Captain Hutton. (Transactions, p. 472.) 3. “A Revision of the New Zealand Species of Ceramiaceæ,” by R. M. Laing. (Transactions, p. 384.) 4. “Campbell Island Rocks,” by R. Speight. (Transactions, p. 552.) Fifth Meeting: 7th September, 1904. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Member.—Mr. C. Aschmann. Address.—Mr. G. Gray, F.C.S., delivered an address on “Plant-food.” Sixth Meeting: 5th October, 1904. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. Address.—Mr. R. M. Laing, M.A., B.Sc., delivered an address on “Radio-activity.” Seventh Meeting: 2nd November, 1904. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Mr. F. W. Terry, Mr. Hulsen, and Mr. F. Stone. Papers.—1. “On the Occurrence of the Shrike Thrush in New Zealand.” (Transactions, p. 350.) 2. “On the Formation of the Canterbury Plains,” by Captain Hutton. (Transactions, p. 465.) 3 “List of Tertiary Mollusch in the Canterbury Museum,” by Captain Hutton. 4. “Appendix (1) to the List of New Zealand Seaweeds,” by R. M. Laing. (Transactions, p. 380.) Dr. Chilton exhibited the disarticulated skull of a wallaby. Dr. Farr exhibited some curves relating to the electrical condition of wind, particularly of nor'-westers.

Annual Meeting: 30th November, 1904. Dr. Chilton, President, in the chair. New Members.—Mr. J. E. L. Cull and Mr. Iredale. Abstract of Annual Report. The Council has met eight times since the previous annual meeting. Out of ten members the average attendance has been 7.5. The “Index Faunæ Novæ-zealandiæ” has been completed. The price at which the volume was originally issued to subscribers has now, as always contemplated, been raised to 12s. 6d. The Index not only supplies a much-felt want, but its publication has also been financially satisfactory. The safe return of the National Antarctic Expedition to Christ-church is a matter for congratulation, and marks an epoch in the history of southern exploration. During the stay of the vessels in port several of the officers frequently attended the meetings of the Institute, and exhibited their instruments and some of their specimens. It had been hoped that the reconstitution of the New Zealand Institute would result in the earlier appearance of the annual volume of Transactions. This has so far not been the case. The library has been maintained in an efficient condition, and thirty pounds' worth of books have recently been ordered from England. A proposal has been made to issue a joint catalogue of scientific books, magazines, and pamphlets in the libraries of the Museum of the Canterbury College and of the Philosophical Institute. The number of members has increased from eighty-five to 105, and there has been an average attendance at the meetings of forty-one. Five addresses have been given during the year, and nine papers have been read. The balance-sheet shows a credit balance of £53 1s. 2d., whilst the accumulated funds arising from the subscriptions of life members now amount to £85 3s. 9d. The Council regrets that owing to his removal to Wellington it has lost the services of Dr. Cockayne. Papers.—1. “On Some Glaciated Stones from Queenstown. Lake Wakatipu,” by Mr. E. G. Hogg. (Transactions, p. 426.) Mr. Hogg remarked that the specimen exhibited by him appeared to be the first found in New Zealand. 2. “On the Occurrence of a Species of Cercaria on the Cockle,” by Dr. Chilton. (Transactions, p. 322.) 3. “On the Function of the Last Pair of Legs in Grimothea gregaria (Whale-feed),” by Dr. Chilton. (Transactions, p. 320.) Dr. Chilton exhibited living specimens of Lepidium viridis. Officers for 1905.—President—Dr. Coleridge Farr; Vice-Presidents—Mr. R. Speight and Mr. F. W. Hilgendorf; Treasurer—Professor Charles Chilton; Council—Captain F. W. Hutton, Dr. W. P. Evans, Messrs. J. B. Mayne, R. M. Laing, A. E. Flower, and Dr. Talbot; Honorary Auditor—Mr. G. E. Way.