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The Secretary submitted the following resolution from the Council:— “That the Council recommend to the immediate and earnest consideration of this Institute, the propriety of petitioning the House of Representatives to take steps with a view to establishing a School of Mines in New Zealand.”
Dr. Powell then moved,—“That it is of the utmost importance that a School of Mines be established in New Zealand, and that Christchurch presents peculiar advantages for the establishment of such a School— (a) from its central position between the mining districts of Otago, West- land, and Nelson; (b) from its easy access from all sides by the present and prospective means of inland communication; (c) by the high standard of its Public Schools; (d) by its possession of a large, well-ordered, and rapidly increasing Museum, in connection with most of the principal Museums in the Northern Hemisphere; (f) by the fact of large reserves of land having been already made for the endowment of kindred educational purposes.”
Mr. Davie seconded the motion.
The President expressed his strong approval of the course proposed to be adopted. He deemed the establishment of a School for instruction in mining matters of the very greatest moment. As one argument in support of the motion, he alluded to the large sums of money which had been squandered, not merely in Auckland speculations, but in searching for gold in parts of this province where there was not the slightest probability of its being found. He also pointed out that many persons might attend a School of Mines who were not actually miners, but who desired instuction in geology, mineralogy, chemistry, or other allied sciences. He was of opinion that the arguments in respect to the
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peculiar suitability of Christchurch, by reason of its central position, were incontestable, and hoped the recommendation of the Council would be taken up with spirit.
The motion was then carried unanimously.
Mr. Jollie moved,—“That a Committee, consisting of the President, the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Davie, Dr. Powell, and the mover, be appointed to draw up a petition embodying the above resolution.”
Dr. Barker seconded the motion, which was also carried without a dissentient.
Mr. Marshman moved,—“That a general meeting of the Philosophical Institute be called for to-morrow (Thursday) night, at half-past seven o'clock, to consider the draft of the petition and enable members to append their signatures thereto.”
Dr. Coward seconded the motion, which was carried nem. con.
Dr. Powell in accordance with previous notice moved,—“That the two upper rooms of the Literary Institute be engaged for the Council and General Meetings of the Institute.”
Mr. Hart seconded the motion, which was agreed to.
The President then read some notes relative to some erroneous statements made by Mr. Buller in a paper concerning the specific names of New Zealand birds. (Withdrawn by the author.)
Mr. Fereday submitted for inspection a number of sand-worn stones which he had collected during a recent visit to the boulder bank between Evans' and Lyall's Bays, Wellington, and stated that they were specimens of the stones referred to in the paper written by Mr. W. T. L. Travers, and published in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, Vol. ii. The stones presented a very peculiar appearance, caused by the action of the sand driven across their surface by the various winds prevalent in the locality they were taken from.
The specimens excited considerable interest among the members.
Mr. Davie remarked that he had specimens of a similar kind which he had picked up in the gorge of the Rakaia.
The President laid upon the table a volume of the Ibis, containing Dr. Haast's remarks on the Kakapo: presented by Mr. Walter Buller.
Mr. Seeley exhibited a photograph of a remarkable pass at the head of the Godley glacier, visited by him during the autumn of the present year, and made some observations concerning its altitude, which is under 6000 feet.
1. “On the Analysis of the Registry of Mortality in the Christchurch District for the last ten years,” by Dr. Powell.
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A short discussion ensued, in which the opinions expressed in the paper and its recommendations were endorsed by Drs. Coward and Barker.