542 Proceedings. 



(2) A sample of supersulphate of soda, a salt which has only 

 lately been introduced as a commercial article, was exhibited. 

 It is a most singular compound, and will prove a very useful 

 one for the cheap preparation of superphosphates from bones 

 and guanos. As received it was in the solid state, but had 

 liquified in part, owing to its having absorbed water from the 

 air. It contained nearly 70 per cent, of sulphuric acid : 15 

 per cent, (that is, on the specimen) is united with soda 

 strongly, to form the sulphate ; the other part, 54 per cent, on 

 the salt, is so loosely combined with this alkali that it is 

 available for the substitution of the free acid for preparing 

 superphosphates. This salt contains from four to five times 

 the quantity of sulphuric acid that is required to make the 

 common sulphate (monosulphate) of soda, and two or three 

 times that required by the bisulphate of soda. About half 

 its weight is available sulphuric acid. 



5. Sir J. Hector exhibited the flower of a plant Strelitzia, 

 from the Cape of Good Hope ; grown in McNab's garden ; 

 flowered after being planted twenty years. An oil-painting of 

 the flower by Mrs. L. Stowe was also exhibited. 



Annual Meeting: 15th February, 1893. 

 Sir "Walter Buller, President, in the chair. 

 New Member. — Mr. Eobert Murdoch. 



Abstbact of Annual Eepobt. 



During the past year nine general meetings were held, at which 

 thirty papers were read and discussed, and, besides these, several interest- 

 ing objects were exhibited at the meetings by Sir James Hector, Sir 

 Walter Buller, Mr. Maskell, Mr. Hudson, and other members, and brief 

 descriptions given. 



The attendance at the meetings was rather larger than usual. 



Six new members have been added to the roll, and the total number 

 is now 145. 



With regard to the scheme of medal awards for meritorious papers, 

 the Council is of opinion that it is desirable to modify the rule requiring 

 that papers intended for competition be so marked by the authors, and 

 that in future all papers read before the Society should be eligible. 



The balance-sheet shows that the receipts for the year were £168 

 Is. 8d., and the expenditure £106 9s. 2d., leaving a balance in hand of 

 £61 12s. 6d. There is also a sum of £21 18s. lodged in the bank at in- 

 terest, which increases the credit balance to £83 lis. 4d. 



Eesolutions, confirming recommendations made by the 



Council, were passed as follows : — 



1. That, in regard to the scheme of medal awards, it is desirable to 

 modify the rule requiring that papers intended for competition be so 

 marked, and that in future all papers read before the Society be eligible. 

 In awarding the medals for the papers the judges are empowered to take 



