Greeks and Romans, we shall, like them, give due prominence in our educational course to scientific studies, bearing in mind that science is but another name for the knowledge of God's works and of His will as expressed in what we term natural laws, and that the better we understand these laws, and the more we live in accordance with them, so in proportion will be not only our natural prosperity, but our success in battling with the ignorance, disease and misery, which must ever be present in this world whilst it is inhabited by sinful men. And what work can be more noble than this? or how can we pay too much honour to those men who devote their lives to the advancement of science, casting as it were their bread on the waters of public opinion, and content to take for their reward the satisfaction of having worked for the benefit of their fellow men. Let this then be the spirit in which the work of this and of kindred institutions shall be carried on, each of its members, in his own special sphere of action, carefully recording facts and collecting data for future reference, on all points of scientific interest that come within his observation, without thought of personal distinction or consideration of pecuniary gain; and so by our separate, yet united endeavours, we may be able to assist in laying broad and deep, the solid foundations of a natural life, greater and more noble than was that of the classical nations of antiquity, and in fostering the growth of a national literature, which shall continue to bear fruit after the very names of Greece and Rome have faded into oblivion. Third Meeting. 1st April, 1880. E. Dobson, President, in the chair. New Members.—W. Malcolm, Major Bamfield.

Election of Honorary Secretary.—G. Gray was elected Honorary Secretary in the place of N. K. Cherill, resigned.

Papers. 1. “On a Volcanic Dyke in the Heathcote Valley,” by A. D. Dobson. (Transactions, p. 391.)

2. “Notes or Suitable Subjects for Papers,” by C. W. Adams.

Fourth Meeting. 6th May, 1880. E. Dobson, President, in the chair. New Members.—Rev. W. C. Harris, J. R. Gwatkin, J. E. Pickett, R. Schmidt.

Vacancy In Council.—N. K. Cherill was elected to fill the vacancy in the Council caused by the resignation of G. Gray.

Papers.

2. “On the Hymenoptera of New Zealand,” by Professor Hutton. 3. “On the Causes tending to Alter the Eccentricity of Planetary Orbits,” by Professor A. W. Bickerton. (Transactions, p. 149.)