Wellington Philosophical Society.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 46, 1913, Page 372

Wellington Philosophical Society. First Meeting: 30th April, 1913. Professor T. H. Easterfield, President, in the chair, and about forty members and friends. New Member.—Mr. G. G. Bridges. The President announced that Mr. G. V. Hudson had resigned from the Council, and that the Council had elected Mr. L. Birks as a member of the Council. Ateration of Rules.—A new rule was adopted giving the Council power to elect as a life member—(1) Any member of the Society who, in the opinion of the Council, has given the Society specially meritorious service, provided that the number so elected in any one year shall not exceed one; or (2) any member of the Society who has paid his subscription to the Society for thirty years, and who intimates to the Council his desire to become a life member; or (3) any member of the New Zealand Institute who has paid his subscription to one or more of the affiliated societies for thirty years, and who after taking up his residence in Wellington intimates to the Council his desire to become a life member. Ex-Presidential Address.—“Some Recent Advances in Chemistry,” by Professor Easterfield. Second Meeting: 28th May, 1913. Professor T. H. Easterfield, President, in the chair, and about sixty members and friends. New Members.—Mr. W. R. Morris, Mr. F. H. Bakewell, M.A., Mr. W. O. Beere, and Mr. W. H. Hodson. A discussion took place on the presidential address of Professor E. A. Schaefer, D.Sc., F.R.S., delivered at the Dundee meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, on the nature, origin, and maintenance of life. Professor Easterfield, on the invitation of the Council, gave a summary of the address. Professor Kirk criticized the views of Professor Schaefer, giving his reasons at length; while Dr. C. M. Begg supported Professor Schaefer. A general discussion then took place, to which Mr. F. G. A. Stuckey, Dr. Cockayne, Mr. G. V. Hudson, Professor Laby, Mr. H. L. James, Mr. W. H. Hodson, and Professor Hunter contributed. Professor Kirk then replied to the points raised in the general discussion.

Third Meeting: 25th June, 1913. Professor T. H. Easterfield, President, in the chair, and about fifty members. Technological Section.—In accordance with notice of motion given at the May meeting, Mr. R. W. Holmes moved, That a Technological Section of the Society be formed. Seconded by Mr. W. Ferguson. After discussion by Mr. G. V. Hudson and Mr. P. G. Morgan, the motion was carried, Mr. Hudson dissenting. Exhibits.—Professor Laby exhibited and described electrical apparatus for use with alternating currents. Mr. C. A. Cotton exhibited and described apparatus for opaque projection. Mr. W. A. Stewart exhibited some photographs showing the reflection of X-rays. Papers.—1. “The Calibration of Copper Constantan Thermo-electric Couples,” by Mr. E. O. Hercus, M.Sc. Professor Laby and Mr. Adams congratulated Mr. Hercus on the work he is doing. 2. “The Nature of Gamma Rays from Radium,” by Mr. P. W. Burbridge, M.Sc. The President congratulated Mr. Burbridge on winning the 1851 Exhibition Science Scholarship. Lord Avebury.—Mr. G. V. Hudson referred to the recent death of Lord Avebury, and moved, That the Society expresses its keen sense of regret at the great loss to science, and to the world in general, through the death of Lord Avebury. Special Meeting: 7th July, 1913. The meeting was held in the Concert Chamber, Town Hall. His Worship the Mayor presided over a large audience, and introduced Dr. Chilton, President of the New Zealand Institute. Hector Medal.—Dr. Chilton gave an account of the foundation of the Hector Fund, and stated the Hector Medal had been awarded to Professor Easterfield for researches in chemistry. His Excellency the Governor, Lord Liverpool, then presented the medal to Professor Easterfield, and congratulated him, and invited him to give some information of his own and his students' work. Professor Easterfield gracefully acknowledged the aid which he had received from demonstrators and students in his laboratory. Lecture.— Dr. Chilton then delivered an interesting lecture “On the Biological Results of Antarctic Exploration.” The lecture was illustrated by many fine lantern-slides. Fourth Meeting: 30th July, 1913. Professor T. H. Easterfield, President, in the chair, and about forty members. New Members.—Messrs. F. W. MacLean, F. Reed, A. Atkins, P. H. R. Miles, J. R. Smith, A. Gibbs, K. R. Orchiston, D. E. Parton, E. W. Ackland, A. H. Alabaster, C. G. Johnston, G. V. R. Fraser, S. H. Jenkinson, D K. Blair, John P. Luke, W. H. Morton, and A. Dougall.

Geological Section.—Mr. P. G. Morgan moved, That a Geological Section of the Society be formed. Seconded by Mr. C. A. Cotton, and supported by Dr. Allan Thomson, and carried unanimously. Address.—“Experimental Psychology in Australasian Universities,” by Professor Hunter. An interesting discussion followed, in which Mr. Morgan, Professor Kirk, Mr. Thomas Ward, and the President took part. Professor Kirk moved that the Society endorses the following resolution, which was passed at the last meeting but one of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science: That it is important in the interests of higher education that additional teaching should be provided in the department of philosophy, more especially in the subjects of sociology and experimental psychology. Seconded by Mr. P. Levi, and carried. Paper.—“The Natives of South-east Papua,” by Mr. D. Jenness, M.A. Fifth Meeting: 27th August, 1913. Professor T. H. Easterfield, President, in the chair, and about forty members. New Members.—Miss Kilroe, Mr. K. E. Luke, Mr. C. G. Swinburne, Mr. J. M. Morice, B.Sc., and Mr. C. E. Richardson. Science and Art Bill.—The President drew attention to the Science and Art Bill, and urged all members to study it. Papers.—1. “Some Intrusive Igneous Rocks from the Westport District,” by J. A. Bartrum, M.Sc. 2. “Description of a Collection of Actinians from the Kermadec Islands,” by F. G. A. Stuckey, M.A. 3. “Controversial Points in the Geology of the Marginal Rocks of the East Coast of New Zealand,” by Dr. J. Allan Thomson and Mr. C A. Cotton, M.Sc. Sixth Meeting: 24th September, 1913. Professor T. H. Easterfield, President, in the chair, and about twenty-five members. Papers.—1. “Notes on some Recent Earthquakes,” by G. Hogben, M.A. F.G.S. 2. “Preferential Voting for a Single-member Constituency,” by G. Hogben, M.A., F.G.S. 3. “Errors in the Tasmanian System of Proportional Representation,” by G. Hogben, M.A., F.G.S. Annual Meeting: 22nd October, 1913. Professor T. H. Easterfield, President, in the chair, and about forty members. Death of Mr. Augustus Hamilton.—Before beginning the business of the evening the President made the following remarks:— I cannot commence the business of the evening without first referring to the great loss which the Society has suffered by the death of Mr. Augustus Hamilton. Mr.

Hamilton joined the Society thirty-eight years ago, and three years later contributed his first paper, dealing with the botany of the Okarito District of Westland. Since that date he contributed a very large number of papers to the “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute.” Mr. Hamilton's sympathies were very wide. He was interested in coins, stamps, minerals, plants, insects, shells, fish, birds, Native races, and in all matters relating to art. This combination of interests, together with his untiring energy, made him an ideal Curator for our Dominion Museum, and all must regret that his ideal of a Dominion Museum building worthy of the collection, which owed so much to his efforts, has remained unrealized. On the motion of the President, seconded by Dr. C. Monro Hector, the following resolution was passed: “The Council of the Wellington Philosophical Society expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr. A. Hamilton, a former President of the Society, and an honorary life member. Mr. Hamilton's great ability and energy, his wide sympathies and catholic tastes, placed him amongst our public men. His services to art and science are evidenced by the large quantity and sterling quality of his published work. On behalf of the Wellington Philosophical Society, the members of the Council desire to express their sense of the great loss which the Society and New Zealand culture have sustained, and to express to the relatives of Mr. Hamilton their sincerest sympathy.” New Members.—Mr. T. O. Fox, Mr. J. D. Holmes, Mr. E. W. Hurst-house, Mr. L. Moore, Mr. R. E. Robertson, Mr. F. E. Widdop, Mr. H. J. Wynne, Mr. H. J. H. Blow, Mr. E. A. Shrimpton, and Mr. G. Stewardson. Annual Reports.—The annual report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The annual reports of the Astronomical, Technological, and Geological Sections were also read and adopted. Mr. G. V. Hudson, speaking to the annual report, regretted the almost complete disappearance of original papers on New Zealand natural history, and objected to the formation of sections of the Society, as tending to reduce the interest of the ordinary meetings. Election of Officers for 1914.—President—Dr. C. Monro Hector, M.D., B.Sc.; Vice-President—Mr. Thomas King, F.R.A.S.; Council—Dr. J. Allan Thomson, D.Sc., Professor T. H. Easterfield, M.A., Ph.D., Mr. G. Hogben, M.A., Mr. R. W. Holmes, M. Inst.C.E., Mr. B. C. Aston, F.C.S., F.I.C., Mr. E. Parry, B Sc., M.I.E.E.; Aditor—Mr. E. R. Dymock, A.I.A. Papers.—1. “Notes on Phosphorous and Phosphoric Acids,” by Mr. J. G. Fulton. 2. “The Unfit: an Educational Problem,” by Miss P. Myers, B.A. Both papers gave rise to interesting discussions, in which Dr. Thomson, Professor Easterfield, and Mr. G. Hogben took part. 3. “Notes on a Tide-predicting Machine,” by Mr. C. E. Adams. 4. “Harmonic Tidal Constants of New Zealand Ports—Dunedin and Port Chalmers,” by Mr. C. E. Adams. 5. “Plant-habitats Hitherto Unrecorded,” by Mr. B. C. Aston. 6. “Botanical Notes on an Ascent of the Ruahine Mountains at Makaretu,” by Mr. B. C. Aston. 7. “List of Plants and Brief Ecological Remarks on certain Little-known Localities,” by Mr. B. C. Aston. 8. “The Interpretation of Milk Records,” by Mr. B. C. Aston. 9. “Potassium in Agricultural Samples,” by Mr. B. C. Aston. 10. “Notes on the Phanerogamic Flora of the Ruahine Mountain-chain,” by Mr. B. C. Aston. 11. “Unconformities in the Stratified Rocks of the West Coast of the South Island,” by Mr. P. G. Morgan.

12. “On the Relation of the Great Marlborough Conglomerate to the Underlying Formations in the Middle Clarence Valley,” by Mr. C. A. Cotton. 13. “Preliminary Note on the Uplifted East Coast of Marlborough,” by Mr. C. A. Cotton. 14. “Supplementary Notes on Wellington Physiography,” by Mr. C. A. Cotton. 15. “The Geological History of the Westport-Charleston High-level Terraces,” by J. A. Bartrum. Exchanges.—Mr. C. A. Cotton moved, That the representatives of the Wellington Philosophical Society on the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute be requested to move in the matter of having more care taken of current periodicals, &c., received as exchanges, especially in the direction of making sure that all numbers are received, and that the complete set of numbers making each volume is carefully prepared for binding. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bartrum, and supported by Professor Easterfield and Mr. Morgan, and carried.