Manawatu Philosophical Society.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 51, 1919, Page 507

Manawatu Philosophical Society. Seven general meeting were held during the year, at which the following papers were read: “The Ethics of the British Constitution,” by Lance-Corporal C. E. Ferris, N.Z.M.C.; “The Origin of Ocean Currents,” by A. W. Burrell; “Mangahao versus Waikaremoana as Sources of Electric Power,” by C. N. Clausen; “The Panama Canal,” by Captain Spence, N.Z.M.C.; “The Hot Springs of Querta del Inca,” by W R Mummery, F.I.C.; “Mountains,” by Dr. C. A. Cotton, D.Sc. Abstract of Annual Report. As the result of an application by the society for an annual subsidy the Borough Council has granted a subsidy of £10. At the annual meeting of the 13th December, 1917, it was resolved that the number of members of Council be increased from six to twelve. This resolution was confirmed at a general meeting held on the 8th March. During the year five new members were elected, and two, Drs. Stowe and Barnett, who had been on active service, returned. With very deep regret the Council has to record the loss which the society, in common with the town and district, has suffered by the death of Mr. J. E. Vernon, M.A., B.Sc., Rector of the High School, who was a member of the society from its foundation, constantly occupied a seat on the Council, and served the office of President. Another member has been removed by death in the person of Mr. David Buick, M.P., who was at all times ready to use the influence of his position to further the interests of the society. The Council is also about to lose, though happily in this case only by his official removal from Palmerston, another most valued member in Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., who, ever since his coming to Palmerston, has been a most active member of Council, has for three successive years been President, and has contributed many valuable papers. The attendance at the Museum has kept up to the average of from twenty-five to thirty each afternoon, but the majority of these are quite young, and it is still a matter of regret that their visits are not made more systematically and under due supervision. A good many additions have been made to the Museum, including a collection of about fifty moths and butterflies from Dr. Thomson, curios from the Solomon Islands presented by Archdeacon Comins, and a number of pamphlets and leaflets relating to the war from the British Museum. There is little doubt that the absorbing interest of the war has had a bad effect both on the number of our subscribers and the attendance at our meetings, and now that there is a prospect of a speedy return to normal conditions we may hope for an improvement in both. The officers for the year 1919 were elected as follows: President—Mr. M. A. Ehott. Vice-Presidents—Messrs. J. A. Colquhoun, M.Sc.; C. N. Clausen. Officer in Charge of the Observatory—Mr. R. A. H. Grace. Council—Miss Ironside, M.A., Messrs. J. L Barnicoat; R. Edwards; J. B Gerrand; E. Larcomb; W. R. Mummery, F.I.C.; W. Park; C. T. Salmon, Associate in Eng.; H. Seifert; D. Sinclair, C.E.; A. Whitaker. Secretary and Treasurer—K. Wilson, M.A. Auditor—W. E. Bendall, F.I.A.N.Z