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Philosophical Institute of Canterbury.
First Meeting: 1st May, 1907.
The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and forty-six others present.
New Member.—T. H. Jackson.
On the motion of the President, resolutions of sympathy were carried with the families of the late Mr. R. Brown and Mr. T. W. Naylor-Beckett.
Dr. Chilton gave a résumé of the proceedings at the meeting of the New Zealand Institute in January.
Mr. R. Speight, the retiring President, gave an address on “Some Aspects of the Terrace-development in the Valleys of the Canterbury Rivers” (p. 16).
Second Meeting: 5th June, 1907.
The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and thirty others present.
New Members.—W. J. O'Donnell, G. A. Sommers, A. Taylor, J. Ingram, and Rev. H. Adamson.
On the motion of the President, a resolution of congratulation was carried with Professor Benham on his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society.
A discussion then ensued on Mr. Speight's ex-presidential address, in which Dr. Cockayne, the President, Messrs. Hogg, Mulgan, Laing, and Page took part.
Third Meeting: 3rd July, 1907.
The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and forty others present.
The President, referring to the death of Sir John Hall, moved “That the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury desires to place on record its sorrow at the death of Sir J. Hall, one of its oldest members, and its appreciation of his many public services.”
This was carried, those present standing.
New Members.—Mrs. Waymouth, Miss Wilson, and Mr. J. C. Andersen.
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A resolution of congratulation was carried with Sir Joseph Hooker, F.R.S., on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday.
Dr. Cockayne gave an address on “The Vegetation of Stewart Island.”
Papers.—1. “On Simson's Line,” by E. Hogg, M.A.
2. “On a Case of Variation in Cotula Haastii,” by Dr. Cockayne.
Dr. Chilton shortly explained Mr. Kirkaldy's paper on a “Heteropterous Hemipteron” (p. 109).
Exhibits.—Dr Symes exhibited the blue-gum scale, and the ladybird its natural enemy.
Fourth Meeting: 7th August, 1907.
Mr. R. Speight in the chair, and forty others present.
New Members.—Messrs. J. O. Jameson and N. L. McBeth.
Mr. Speight called attention to the letting of the contract for the Arthur's Pass Tunnel, and to the scientific questions which might be elucidated in the progress of this great work.
The matter was referred to the Council.
Mr. T. W. Adams read an address on the genus Pinus, which was illustrated by numerous exhibits.
A paper on “The Prevalent Wind of Kaikoura,” by the late Dr. Gunn, was read by Mr. A. H. Cockayne, as follows:—
Upper clouds, and directions, for years 1902–4 (inclusive), as made at Kaikoura, Marlborough, New Zealand; situated ten miles south of Kaikoura Ranges, the altitude of which is 8,000 ft. Latitude, 42o 26′ 30″ S.; longitude, 173o 45′ E.; height above sea-level, 50 ft.; distance from sea, quarter of a mile.
Records of upper-cloud (cirrus, cirro-stratus, and cirro-cumulus) movement, which I have kept for ten years, although the three years 1902–4 have only so far been collated. During these three years, out of 224 observations the drift of cloud was from south-west on eighty-seven occasions, from north-west on sixty-two occasions, from west on sixty occasions, from south on nine occasions, from south-east on three occasions, from north-east on two occasions, from north on one occasion, and from east on no occasions. this almost invariable drift from the westward shows that to be the general motion of the higher atmospheric currents. They are, I consider, the antitrades.
Mr. E. Hitchings showed some diagrams relating to sunspot statistics.
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Fifth Meeting: 4th September, 1907.
The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and forty others present.
New Member.—Mr. J. Dawes.
The business of the meeting was the discussion on theories of evolution, in which Dr. Hilgendorf, and Messrs. Laing, Mayne, Speight, and Waite, took part.
Sixth Meeting: 2nd October, 1907.
The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and forty others present.
Mr. J. Drummond gave an address on “The Little Barrier Island,” illustrating it with lantern-slides (p. 500).
Mr. Waite showed some specimens of brown coal brought up in the “Nora Niven's” dredges off the coast of Canterbury at depths of from 25 to 30 fathoms.
Mr. Speight called attention to the interest of the specimens, as evidence of the continuation of the coal-measures under the Canterbury Plains.
Seventh Meeting: 23rd October, 1907.
The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and fifty others present.
Professor A. W. Bickerton gave an address on “The Evolution of the Universe,” which he illustrated with lantern-slides and diagrams.
A short discussion ensued, which was interrupted by the time of closing.
Dr. Coleridge Farr stated that, whilst going a certain distance with Professor Bickerton, he thought that gentleman was wrong in appealing to laymen to take up his theories, which should be put before the scientific world through the regular channels.
Mr. Hogg found difficulty in discussing the theory on account of the nebulous condition of the statements.
Eighth Meeting: 6th November, 1907.
The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and thirty others present.
New Members.—Messrs. Farrow and Tripp.
Papers were read by Messrs. S. Speight, A. M. Wright, T. Iredale, and J. C. Anderson.
Mr. Hogg referred to the approaching departure of the subantarctic expedition, saying that the organization of such an expedition marked a new era in the history of the Institute.
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Annual Meeting: 11th December, 1907.
Dr. Cockayne in the chair, and thirty others present.
The Chairman referred to the death of Sir James Hector, and moved a resolution of sympathy with his family. This was seconded by Dr. Chilton, and carried, those present standing.
Mr. Hogg referred to the return of the subantarctic expedition, and, on behalf of the Institute, welcomed the Canterbury members of it.
The following annual report and balance - sheet were adopted:—
The number of Council meetings held during the year was eighteen, and the average attendance seven. Early in the year Mr. Hogg, who had been appointed Secretary at the last annual meeting, resigned, and Dr. C. Coleridge Farr took his place.
Apart from the regular work which the Council has to perform every year, the principal business this year has been the organization of the expedition to the Auckland and Campbell Islands, which has now been successfully carried through. In the early part of the year, owing to the contemplated marine survey of the coast of New Zealand, it appeared likely that it would be impossible to make arrangements with the Government for the conveyance of the expedition, but on the abandonment of the survey the Minister of Marine very readily fell in with your Council's proposals, and finally agreed to take a party of twenty-five, landing them in two sections, one at the Auckland Islands and the other at Campbell Island. The selection of gentlemen to form these parties fell to your Council, and they fully realised the responsibility thus cast upon them. The considerations which guided them in their choice were the efficiency of both parties in every branch of science likely to be advanced by a visit to these interesting islands, and the avoidance of overlapping. The Council issued invitations to gentlemen of recognised standing throughout New Zealand. It was inevitable that some of those whose names first occurred to the Council should be unable, from one reason or another, to go, and the Council much regretted that as the expedition left the Bluff it contained no representatives from the Auckland District, although five distinguished scientific men from the northern capital had been invited. This was mainly owing to circumstances over which neither the Council nor those gentlemen themselves had control.
Being acquainted with the work done by the members of the expedition in their several scientific capacities, the Council has no hesitation in saying that the results are of such a character as to lead to a considerable extension of our knowledge not only of these little-known islands in particular, but also of the subantarctic area in general. During the forth-coming year it is probable that papers dealing with the expedition will be brought before you, and it will be a matter for the Council to be elected this evening to decide as to most satisfactory means of publication of the results as a whole.
For the purposes of the expedition the Council voted £25 of the Institute's funds, and it has learnt since its return that the Parliament has, at the suggestion of the Government, voted £150 towards the expenses.
The Council notes with pleasure that an expedition has been organized by members of the Institute and others to visit the Kermadecs and to spend a year there for the purpose of making scientific collections. To aid this work the Council has made a grant of £10 from the Institute's
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funds, and has used its influence to endeavour to secure free passages for the members of the party, but unfortunately in this respect it was unsuccessful.
The Council in last year's report drew attention to the advisability of the appointment of a Government Botanist, and it is pleased now to state that, while such a post has not yet been created, arrangements have been made between the Government and Dr. Cockayne which are very satisfactory from a scientific point of view, and which enable that gentleman to continue and extend the work which he has so long and so successfully carried on at his own expense.
The signing of a contract for the construction of a tunnel at Arthur's Pass brought before the Council the problems of interest which might be elucidated in the progress of a work of so great a magnitude. A subcommittee has been appointed and the initial steps have been taken, and arrangements in connection with experiments proposed will form part of the business of the next Council.
The number of ordinary meetings of the Institute held during the year has been nine, and the average attendance at these has been forty. Addresses have been given as follows: Mr. R. Speight, “Some Aspects of the Terrace-development in the Valleys of the Canterbury Rivers”; Dr. L. Cockayne, “The Vegetation of Stewart Island”; Mr. T. W. Adams, “The Genus Pinus”; Mr. Jas. Drummond, “Little Barrier Island”; Professor Bickerton, “The Evolution of the Universe; and one evening was devoted to a discussion on “Theories of Evolution.” Besides these, seventeen papers have been read before the Institute, which may be classified as follows: Mathematics and physics, 4; geology, 2; chemistry, 1; botany, 2; zoology, 7; literature, 1.
The number of members of the Institute is now 147.
The Hon. Treasurer's balance-sheet shows that during the year £122 1s. 6d. was received for members' subscriptions, that £54 2s. 10d. has been expended in the purchase of books and periodicals for the library, £25 has been contributed to the subantarctic expedition, and £10 to the Kermadecs expedition, leaving a credit balance, including the £50 placed on fixed deposit two years ago, of £83 4s. Of this amount, the sum of £10 has been allocated for expenses connected with the investigations made desirable by the cutting of the Arthur's Pass Tunnel.
Election of Officers for 1908.—President—Mr. E. G. Hogg; Vice-Presidents—Dr. Hilgendorf, Mr. R. M. Laing; Hon. Secretary—Mr. R. Speight; Hon. Treasurer—Dr. Chilton; Council—Dr. Cockayne, Mr. J. Drummond, Dr. C. C. Farr, Mr. J. B. Maine, Mr. Edgar R. Waite, Mr. A. M. Wright; Hon. Auditor—Mr. G. Way, F.I.A.N.Z.
Mr. Hogg, on taking the chair, referred to the advent of the antarctic ship “Nimrod,” and to the approaching arrival of the Carnegie Institute's magnetic-survey yacht “Galilee.”