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Volume 60, 1930
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Minutes.

Section 1.—Physics and Chemistry Section.

President, Professor W. Evans, M.A., Ph.D.; Vice-President, Professor D. C. H. Florance, M.A., M.Sc.; Hon. Secretaries, Professor F. P. Worley, M.A., D.Sc., and Professor P. W. Burbidge, M.Sc.

The President's address was entitled, “The Use of the Microscope in the Study of Coal,” a subject on which Professor Evans has been actively engaged for a number of years. The lecture was illustrated by a large number of lantern slides and was greatly appreciated by about thirty physicists and chemists attending the section.

Owing to the large number of papers received, the section was divided into two sub-sections, Chemistry and Physics respectively, for all but two sessions devoted to papers of conjoint interest. One session of the chemistry sub-section was devoted to a joint meeting with the New Zealand Branch of the Institute of Chemistry of Great Britain and Ireland, and another session to a joint meeting of chemistry and agriculture.

The following papers were read:

Full Section (Physics and Chemistry).
Mr. R. Gardner, M.Sc.: “A Method of Setting out the Classification of the Elements.”
Professor C. C. Farr, F.R.S., and Mr. M. N. Rogers, M.Sc.: “Helium in New Zealand.”
Mr. M. N. Rogers, M.Sc.: “Helium and the Genesis of Petroleum.”
Mr. N. S. Alexander, M.Sc.: “Chemical Analysis by X-Ray Absorption.”
Mr. A. C. Gifford, M.A.: “The Physical and Chemical Principles that underlie the Interpretation of Novae.”
Physics Sub-section.
Dr. C. E. Adams: (1) “Astronomical Site-testing in N.Z.”
(2) “Solution of Euler's Equation in a Parabolic Orbit” (with table).
Mr. N. S. Alexander, M.Sc.: “The J-phenomenon in X-rays.”
Dr. M. A. F. Barnett: “The Propagation of Wireless Waves.”
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Mr. G. B. Beaney, B.Sc.: “Experiments in Frictional Electricity.”
Professor P. W. Burbidge: “A Tentative Theory of Frictional Electricity.”
Professor D. C. Florance: “The Testing of Parabolic Mirrors.”
Mr. F. Gawith, F.R.A.S.: “The Trend of Stellar Evolution.”
Mr. A. C. Gifford, M.A.: “The Origin of the Surface Features of the Moon.”
Mr. A. Gibbs, M.I.E.E.: “The International Radio Convention, 1928.”
Mr. J. W. Harding, B.Sc.: “The Electrolytic Double Layer.”
Dr. E. Kidson: “The Deposition of Australian Dust in New Zealand.”
Mr. G. A. Peddie, M.A.: “The Nature of the Gaseous Ion.”
Mr. F. W. White, M.Sc.: “The Piezo-electric Oscillator and its Uses.”

Chemistry Sub-section.

Mr. W. Donovan, M.Sc.: “Some Processes for Low Temperature Distillation of Coal.”
Professor T. H. Easternfield: “An Unusual Explosion.”
Mr. A. M. Wright, F.I.C., and Dr. H. O. Askew: (a) “The Colorimetric Estimation of Vitamin A in Fats.”
(b) “Calcium Chloride in Fellmongery Practice.”
Mr. R. L. Andrew: “The Determination of Minute Amounts of Iodine in Water and Soil.”
Mr. D. E. Adams, B.Sc., and Professor F. P. Worley: “The Action of Sulphuric Acid on Mercury and on Copper.”
Mr. M. L. Stewart, B.Sc., and Mr. W. F. Short, M.Sc.: “The Re-arrangement of Benzyl Phenyl Ethers.”
Mr. L. H. Briggs, M.Sc., and Mr. W. F. Short, M.Sc.: “The Chemistry of Leptospermol.”
Professor F. P. Worley: “Occurrence of Manuka Manna,” part 2.

Chemistry and Agriculture—Joint Meeting.

Professor T. H. Easterfield and Mr. J. A. Bruce: “Xanthine Calculi in New Zealand Sheep,” part 1.
Dr. H. O. Askew: “The Mineral Contents of Typical Pastures in the Waimea County.”
Mr. B. W. Doak, M.Sc.: “The Mineral Contents of Lucerne with special reference to the role of Sulphur.”
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Mr. T. Rigg, M.Sc., Mr. J. A. Bruce and Professor T. H. Easterfield: “A Note on the Reclamation of Pakihi Land.”
Professor F. P. Worley: “The Market Garden in Relation to Mineral Food Deficiencies.”

Attendances: The attendance at the Physics and Chemistry Subsections was about a dozen at each meeting.

Section 2.—Geology and Geography.

President, Dr. J. Henderson, M.A., F.N.Z.Inst.; Vice-President, Dr. Geo. Uttley; Hon. Secretary, Professor J. A. Bartrum, M.Sc., F.N.Z. Inst.

At the commencement of the session the President spoke of the regret which all geologists felt at the death of Dr. J. A. Thomson and of Mr. P. G. Morgan.

The average attendance at the section was about 14, and papers and addresses were given as follows:

Friday, 25th January.

Presidential Address, Dr. J. Henderson: “The Sequence of Tertiary Beds in New Zealand.”
Mr. H. T. Ferrar: “Structure Lines in North Auckland.”
Dr. P. Marshall: “Coral Limestones.”
“Gravels and Sands on Beaches” (read by Hon. Secretary).
Dr. J. Marwick: “East Coast Tertiary Beds.”

Saturday, 26th January.

A joint session with the Biology Section was held to discuss former land connections of New Zealand. The discussion was led by Dr. J. Marwick and Mr. W. R. B. Oliver and contributed to by Professor Benham, Mr. H. T. Ferrar, Professor Kirk, Hon. G. M. Thomson, Mr. R. A. Falla, and Mr. A. W. B. Powell.

Monday, 28th January.

A joint session with the Agriculture Section was held from 9.30 to 11.15 a.m., the papers contributed being:

Mr. H. T. Ferrar, M.A.: “Rock Formations and Agriculture in North Auckland.”
Mr. L. I. Grange: “The Soils of the Rotorua County.”

Other papers presented to the section during the day were:

Professor J. A. Bartrum: “Pillow-like lavas from Muriwai, West Coast, Auckland.”
Mr. A. D. Mead: “Geography of the area west of the Firth of Thames.”
Mr. H. T. Ferrar: “Recent Antarctic Exploration.”
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Tuesday, 29th January.

Dr. J. A. Berry: “Pumice Hailstones or Chalazoidites.”
Mr. C. W. Firth: “Geology of the area east and south-east of Auckland City.”

Section 3.—Biology.

President, Professor W. B. Benham, D.Sc., F.R.S., F.N.Z. Inst.; Vice-President, Dr. David Miller, F.E.S.; Hon. Secretary, Mr. T. L. Lancaster, M.Sc.

Dr. Benham's Presidential Address, “The Inheritance of Mental Qualities,” was delivered as a public lecture at one of the evening meetings, and is reported on page 27.

The average attendance at the meetings was 20. The following papers and addresses were given:

Friday, 25th January.

Rev. Dr. J. E. Holloway: “The Gametophyte Generation in the Hymenophyllaceae.”
Mr. F. G. Maskell: “On the New Zealand Lamprey.”
Mr. D. L. Poppelwell: “The Ecological Effects of Acclimatisation in New Zealand.”
The Hon. G. M. Thomson: “Nature Study in Schools.”

This paper introduced a general discussion on the subject participated in by Mr. R. A. Falla, Dr. Cockayne, Professor Kirk, Dr. Holloway and Mr. W. R. B. Oliver. As an outcome of the discussion the following resolutions were carried by the Section:

1.

That a committee consisting of the Hon. Mr. Geo. M. Thomson, Dr. L. Cockayne, Dr. J. E. Holloway and Mr. R. A. Falla be set up to see what can be done to promote Nature Study in Schools and to report to the Institute.
2.

That this meeting of the Biology Section of the New Zealand Institute Science Congress, 1929, emphasizes the importance of Nature Study and Natural Science in primary and post-primary schools. Recognizing the efforts already being made to improve such instruction, the Institute offers to co-operate with the Education Department, and to this end has set up a committee which would be willing to confer at any time with the officers of the Department.

These resolutions were considered at a meeting of the General Committee held at the end of the Congress. (See p. 30).

Dr. K. M. Curtis: “The Cytospora Disease of Pinus radiata in Canterbury Plantations.”
Miss B. Parlane: “This Season's Occurrence of the Smut Ustilago Comburens on Danthonia pilosa.”

Saturday, 26th January.

Joint meeting to discuss “Former Land Connections of New Zealand,” recorded under the proceedings of the Geology Section.

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Monday, 28th January.

Mr. David H. Graham: “Mosquitoes of the Auckland Province.”
Rev. Dr. J. E. Holloway: “Observations on the Distribution of fresh water Algae in Otago.”
Mr. J. H. Hudson: “Criticism of Cheeseman's Manual of the New Zealand Flora.”

Section 4.—Agriculture and Forestry.

President, Mr. E. Phillips Turner; Hon. Secretary, Dr. W. S. Hill.

Owing to a last-minute change in the office of President of this section, Mr. Phillips Turner had no opportunity of preparing a Presidential Address.

The following papers were read at meetings of the full section, or at separate meetings of the sub-sections Forestry or Agriculture as indicated.

Friday, 25th January.

Agriculture and Forestry:
Messrs. A. H. Cockayne and E. Bruce Levy: “Some Ecological Aspects of Replacement of Primitive Forest Formation of Grassland.”
Mr. C. E. Foweraker: “The Silting up of Totara and Kahikatea Stands.”
Forestry:
Mr. F. E. Hutchinson, B.Sc.: “Some Notes on the Form of Rimu.”
Mr. A. Hansson: “An Experiment in Burning Tar from Kauri Waste.”
Mr. Alex. R. Entrican: “Paper-pulp from New Zealand-grown Woods.”
Agriculture:
Mr. C. S. M. Hopkirk: “Research work in New Zealand on Dairy Cow Diseases.”
Mr. W. C. Ring: “Sterility in Dairy Cows, with special reference to the part played by Bang's Disease (contagious abortion”).

Saturday, 26th January.

Joint meeting with Chemistry Section, recorded under proceedings of that section.

Monday, 28th January.

Joint meeting to discuss “Rock Formations and Agriculture,” and “The Soils of Rotorua,” recorded under proceedings of Geology Section.

Joint meeting with Biology.

Mr. F. L. Armitage: “Micro-organisms in Industry.”
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Agriculture:
Dr. F. H. McDowall: “The Use of Electricity for the Pasteurisation of Milk.”
Mr. H. R. Whitehead, M.Sc.: “The Production of Graded Milk in England.”
Dr. S. A. Asdell: “The Functional Development of the Mammary Gland.”

Section 5.—Anthropology and History.

President, Mr. H. D. Skinner, M.A., F.N.Z. Inst.; Vice-President, Dr. G. H. Scholefield, O.B.E.; Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. T. Pycroft.

The following addresses and papers were given: the average attendance was 16:

Friday, 25th January.

Presidential Address, Mr. H. D. Skinner, M.A.: “Ahu or Tuahu: The Polynesian Ancestral Shrine.”
Mr. F. Gawith: “The Antiquity of Man.”
The Hon. Sir Apirana Ngata, M.P.: “The Genealogical Method as the Basis of Investigation into the Social Organisation of the Maoris.”
Mr. T. Lindsay Buick: “The French at Akaroa.” (Paper read by Dr. G. H. Scholefield).

Saturday, 26th January.

A joint meeting with the Economics and Social Science Section was held and papers, “The Mind of the Maori,” by Dr. I. L. G. Sutherland, and “New Zealand Archives,” by Dr. G. H. Scholefield, were read and discussed.

Monday, 28th January.

Ven. Archdeacon Williams: “Some Elements of Maori Grammar.”
Mr. T. W. Downes: “Maori Etiquette.”
Major F. Waite, M.P.: “An Archaeological Survey for New Zealand.”
Professor J. C. Sperrin-Johnson: “Survival in Folk Music.”
Mr. Gilbert Archey: “The Recently Discovered Doubtless Bay Carving.”
Mr. H. D. Skinner: “Taranaki Carvings in Wood and Stone.”

Tuesday, 29th January.

Mr. George Graham: “Maori Place Names.”
Mr. W. Teviotdale: “An Ancient Type of Maori Fish-hook”—paper read by the President.

The following resolution was carried and submitted to the General Committee. (See p. 30).

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“That the Anthropology and History Section of the Congress urges the New Zealand Institute to devise some means for enlisting the sympathy of suitable persons in the project of collecting material for an archaeological survey of New Zealand. It further suggests that the Institute should approach the Government and ask:

1.

That assistance be given to the project;
2.

That legislation be passed in order that sites likely to be of value for this purpose be protected from unauthorised and unqualified persons.”
Section 6.—Economics and Social Science.

President, Professor A. H. Tocker, M.A.; Vice-President, Dr. I. L. G. Sutherland, M.A.; Hon. Secretary, Professor H. Belshaw, M.A., Ph.D.

The following addresses and papers were given:

Friday, 25th January.
Presidential Address, Professor A. H. Tocker: “Currency Regulation in New Zealand.”
Mr. H. E. Field, M.A.: “Some Psychological Problems of Sex Education.”
Saturday, 26th January.

Joint meeting with Anthropology Section.

Dr. I. L. G. Sutherland: “The Study of the Maori Mind.”
Dr. G. H. Scholefield: “New Zealand Historical Sources and Archives.”
Monday, 28th January.
Dr. E. P. Neale: “The Post-war Age and Sex Constitution of the New Zealand Population and some of its Economic Effects.”
Professor A. G. B. Fisher: “International Trade Statistics.” (Paper read by Mr. Stephens).
Mr. F. B. Stephens, B. Com.: “Notes on the Early Tariff History of New Zealand.”
Mr. D. O. Williams: “Real and Nominal Wages.”
Tuesday, 29th January.

A discussion, introduced by Dr. I. L. G. Sutherland, was held on “Problems Relating to Mental Deficiency.” The Council of the Auckland Educational Society was present by invitation. The following resolution was passed:*

“That in view of recent cases more adequate safeguards against the improper committal of persons to Mental Hospitals should be provided by means of a revision of existing Law and Practice.”

Professor H. Belshaw: “Some Aspects of the Country Life Problem in New Zealand.”

[Footnote] *This resolution, not having been considered by the Congress as a whole, was not endorsed by the New Zealand Institute.

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