Wellington Philosophical Society.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 51, 1919, Page 496

Wellington Philosophical Society. Eight general meetings of the society were held during the year 1918, at which the following papers and addresses were read:—(24th April) “Control of Milk-supply,” by Mr. R. L. Andrew: (22nd May) “Discovery and Rediscovery of Wellington,” by Mr. Elsdon Best: (26th June) “Notes on the Rate of Growth of New Zealand Native Trees,” by Mr. E. Phillips Turner: (24th July) Presidential address, “The Need for Research,” by Mr. G. Hogben; “New Species of Mollusca from various Dredgings taken off the Coast of New Zealand, the Snares Islands, and the Bounty Islands,” by Miss M. K. Mestayer; “Stephen Island, a Natural Sanctuary for Land-animals,” by Dr. J. Allan Thomson: (28th August) “Mountains,” by Dr. C. A. Cotton: (25th September) “The Nature of X-ray Spectra,” by Professor H. Clark: (18th December) “The Distillation of Waikaia Shales,” by Mr. W. Donovan; “New Zealand Clays,” by Mr. P. G. Morgan; “Graphs showing the Rate of Growth of New Zealand Trees,” by Mr. E. Phillips Turner; “The Edible Fish, &c., of Taupo-nui-a-Tia,” by the Rev. H. J. Fletcher. At the annual meeting, which was held on the 18th December (having been postponed owing to the epidemic), the annual report and balance-sheet were adopted. Abstract of Annual Report Membership.—The roll of members as on the 20th September, 1918, stood as follows: Life members, 10; ordinary members, 164, of whom 23 are on active service. Thirteen new members were elected during the year, six members resigned, and four members died, of whom two were on active service. Roll of Honour.—The following names were added to the roll of honour during the year: Sergeant-major L. J. Comrie and Dr. W. M. Thomson. Grant to the Astronomical Section.—During the year a sum of £8 16s. 6d. was paid on behalf of the Astronomical Section for mounting the King telescope, and the section was further authorized to incur a liability to an amount not exceeding £20 for the current year. Ramsay Memorial Fund.—The Council gave a sum of five guineas to the Ramsay Memorial Fund. Hamillon Memorial Prize.—Pursuant to a recommendation of the Committee of the Hamilton Memorial Fund that the balance of the fund should be invested by the New Zealand Institute, and that each year one half of the interest should be added to the principal, the other half of the interest to be devoted to a prize to be known as the Hamilton prize, the Council at its meeting on the 23rd January adopted the recommendation, and formulated a number of conditions relating to the award of the prize. The resolution was communicated to the New Zealand Institute, the Board of Governors of which has authorized its Standing Committee to co-operate with the Wellington Philosophical Society in arranging the terms upon which the balance of the Hamilton Memorial Fund should be handed over in trust to the New Zealand Institute. Fellowship of the New Zealand Institute —Resolutions of the Committee of the Board of Governors on the subject of the fellowship on the New Zealand Institute were considered, and were afterwards approved in an amended form. Research Grant.—An announcement was received from the Secretary of the New Zealand Institute that the sum of £500 had been voted to the Institute as a grant for research work. The announcement was circulated among the members of the society. Advice was received from the New Zealand Institute that the application from Professor Easterfield for £50 for carrying out investigations on the wax content of brown coals, and from Messrs. La Trobe and Adams for a further £75 in aid of the cost of construction

of a tide-predicting machine, were recommended for approval. The Council was later informed by the New Zealand Institute that the Minister of Internal Affairs had declined to approve of the Institute's recommendation in regard to the grant to Messrs. La Trobe and Adams. Formation of an Historical Section.—On the 28th August it was resolved that an Historical Section should be formed. Since that date one meeting of the new section has been held, and a number of new members have joined the society as a result of the formation of the section. Library Account.—The library was credited during the year with £39 15s. 7d., which, together with a balance of £68 1s. 7d. from last year's account makes a total credit of £107 17s. 2d. The expenses-amounted to £18 14s. 1d., leaving a credit balance of £89 3s. 1d. The following officers and Council were elected for the year 1919: President—R. W. Holmes, I.S.O., M.Inst.C.E. Vice-Presidents—C. E. Adams, D.Sc., F.R.A.S.; J. Allan Thomson, M.A., D.Sc., F.G.S. Council—B. C. Aston, F.I.C., F.C.S.; E. Best; C. A. Cotton, D.Sc., F.G.S.; W. Donovan, M.Sc.; T. H. Easterfield, M.A., Ph.D.; F. W. Furkert, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E.; A. C. Gifford, M.A., F.R.A.S.; S. H. Jenkinson; H. B. Kirk, M.A.; E. K. Lomas, M.A., M.Sc.; P. G. Morgan, M.A., F.G.S. Secretary and Treasurer—C. G. G. Berry. Auditor—E. R. Dymock, F.I.A.N.Z. Representatives on the New Zealand Institute—T. H Easterfield, M.A, Ph.D.; H. B. Kirk, M.A. Astronomical Section. The Observatory was open to the public early in the year, but has been closed since the 4th April owing to the erection of the King telescope and the alterations entailed to the Observatory. The 5 in. Cooke has been removed to the Hector Observatory and stored, while the King telescope has been erected in the section's observatory, the erection and adjustment being carried out by the Director of Instruments (Dr. Adams) and members of the committee. It has been found necessary to renew the sliding shutter, and an estimate is being prepared for the work. Urgent repairs to the roof and dome were carried out during November, 1917. The following papers were read before the section during the year 1918:—(5th June) “Is Earth-rotation the Cause of the Ocean Currents?” by A. W. Burrell: (3rd July) “New Stars,” by A. C. Gifford: (7th August) “Occultation by Venus of 7 Aquarn” by C. E. Adams: (4th September) “A Graphical Method of Predicting Eclipses and Occultations,” by D. M. Y. Sommerville: (2nd October) “A Novel Star Atlas,” by C. W. Adams; “Maori Star Lore,” by Elsdon Best. Committee and Officers for 1919.—Chairman—A. C. Gifford, M.A., F.R.A.S. Vice-Chairmen—D. M. Y. Sommerville, M.A., D.Sc.; W. S. La Trobe, M.A. Committee— E. Parry, B.Sc., M.I.E.E.; C. P. Powles; H. Clark, M.S., Ph.D.; C. Monro Hectoi, M.D., B.Sc., F.R.A.S.; G. S. Hooper; R. D. Thompson, M.A. Director and Curator of Instruments—C. E. Adams, D.Sc., F.R.A.S. Hon. Treasurer—C. E. Adams, D.Sc., F.R.A.S. Hon. Secretary—C. G. G. Berry. Technological Section. The following papers were read during the year:—(8th May) Inaugural address, “Some Consideration on National Efficiency,” by S. H. Jenkinson: (12th June) “The Electrification of Railways,” by Evan Parry: (10th July) “The Functions of the State in Relation to Technical Education,” by W. S. La Trobe: (14th August) “The Distillation of Coal and the Resulting By-products,” by Professor T. H. Easterfield: (9th October) “Electric-arc Welding,” by M. Cable: (11th September) “Littoral Drift on New Zealand Coasts,” by R. W. Holmes: (11th December) “The Surge-chamber Problem” and “Control of Floods,” by E. Parry; “Compression Tests on Papa Concrete,” by F. Kissel. The officers for the year 1919 were elected as follows: Chairman—S. H. Jenkinson. Vice-Chairmen—W. S. La Trobe, M.A.; A. J. Paterson. Committee—R. W. Holmes, M.Inst.C.E.; H. Sladden, member of Surveyor's Board; H. Clark, M.S., Ph.D.; J. S. Maclaurin, D.Sc., F.C.S., F. W. Furkert, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E. Hon. Secretary—A. C. Owen.

Geological Section. The following papers were read during the year 1917-18:—(19th September, 1917) “The Geology of the Papakaio District,” by G. H. Uttley; “A Comparison of the New Zealand and Western North American Cretaceous and Tertiary Formations,” by P. G. Morgan: (17th October, 1917) “Natural Regions in New Zealand,” by E. K. Lomas: (15th May, 1918) “The Geomorphology of the Coastal District of Southwestern Wellington,” by C. A. Cotton: (19th June, 1918) “Notes on the Post-Tertiary History of New Zealand,” by J. Henderson: (17th July, 1918) “The Origin of the Amuri Limestone and Flint-beds,” and “Notes on the Geology of Stephen Island,” by J. A. Thomson; “Permo-Carboniferous or Maitai Rocks of the East Coast of the South Island,” by P. G. Morgan: (21st August, 1918) “The Post-Tertiary History of the Ohau River and of the Adjacent Coastal Plam, Horowhenua County, North Island,” by G. L. Adkin: (18th September, 1918) “The Geology of the Southern Wairarapa District,” by J. A. Thomson; “Further Notes on the Horowhenua Coastal Plain and the Associated Physiographic Features,” by G. L. Adkin: (16th October, 1918) “The Significant Features of Reef-bordered Coasts,” by W. M. Davis; “Tertiary Geology of the Waitaki Valley between Duntroon and Kurow,” by G. H. Uttley. The officers for the year 1919 were elected as follows: Chairman—E. K. Lomas, M.A., M.Sc., F.R.G.S. Vice-Chairman—G. H. Uttley, M.A., M.Sc., F.G.S. Committee— W. Donovan, M.Sc.; J. Henderson, M.A., D.Sc.; R. W. Holmes, I.S.O., M.Inst.C.E.; P. G. Morgan, M.A., D.Sc., F.G S.; J. A. Thomson, M.A., D.Sc., F.G.S. Hon. Secretary—C. A. Cotton. Historical Section. An Historical Section of the Philosophical Society of Wellington was formed, and officers appointed, on the 10th September, 1918, its objects being—the advancement of the knowledge of the history, economics, and ethnology of New Zealand and the adjacent regions; the study of history and economics in general; the promotion of the claims of history, economics, and ethnology in education; the affording of assistance to the Board of Science and Art in the collection of historical material. The following papers were read during the year 1918: (15th October) “Native Tradition of the Death of Marion du Fresne at Bay of Islands in 1772,” “First Visit of Captain Cook, and of Du Surville, in 1769, &c.,” by Elsdon Best; “Place-names in New Zealand, with Special Reference to Banks Peninsula,” by J. C. Andersen. The officers for the year 1919 were elected as follows: Chairman—Elsdon Best. Vice-Chairman—T. W. Porter, C.B. Committee—C. Prendergast Knight, LL.D.; Rev-Father Gilbert; F. P. Wilson, M.A., F.R.E.S.; Charles Wilson; F. E. Edwards. Hon. Secretary—Johannes C. Andersen.