Auckland Institute. 493 



spirit evidenced by the citizens of Auckland should have received more assistance and 

 more appreciation than has been shown by past Governments of the Dominion. The 

 claims of Auckland in this connection are such that the proposal for a subsidy should 

 commend itself favourably to the consideration of the Government. This, however, 

 will not absolve our community from a very considerable voluntary effort. If this 

 is well organized and the claims of the Museum substantially placed before the citizens 

 of Auckland there need be little fear of an inadequate response." It is hoped that the 

 Government will grant a pound-for-pound subsidy — namely, £50,000 — and that the 

 balance of £50,000 be then raised by volmitary subscriptions, for which purpose suitable 

 action will be duly undertaken. 



Election of Officers for 1920. — President — Mr. J. H. Gunson, Mayor of 

 Auckland. Vice-Presidents — Hon. B. Mitchelson ; Mr. C. J. Parr, C.M.G., 

 M.P. Council— Vvoiessoi- C. W. Egerton ; Mr. J. Kenderdiue ; Mr. T. W. 

 Leys ; Mr. E. V. Miller ; Mr. T. Peacock ; Mr. D. Petrie, F.N.Z.Inst. ; Pro- 

 fessor H. W. Segar, M.A., F.N.Z.Inst. ; Professor A. P. W. Thomas, F.L.S., 

 F.N.Z.Inst. ; Mr. J. H. Upton ; Mr. H. E. Vaile ; Professor F. P. Worley, 

 D.Sc. Trustees— Mi. T. Peacock; Mr. J. Reid; Professor A. P. W. Thomas, 

 M.A., F.N.Z.Inst. ; Mr. J. H. Upton ; Mr. H. E. Vaile. Secretary and Curator 

 —Mr, T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.N.Z.Inst. Auditor— "^t. S. Gray. 



PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTEEBUBY. 



At the annual meeting (3rd December, 1919) the annual report and 

 audited balance-sheet were adopted. 



Abstract. 



Council. — Twelve meetings of the Council have been held during the year. Owing 

 to removal or temporary absence from Canterbury the following members of Council 

 fomid it necessary to resign, viz. : Messrs. W. H. Skinner (Vice-President), W. G. 

 Aldridge (Librarian), L. Birks, and M. H. Godby. Mr. A. M. Wright was elected a 

 Vice-President in place of Mr. Skinner, but shortly after also found it necessary to 

 resign, and Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf was elected in his place. The following members of 

 the Institute were elected members of the Council to fill the vacancies caused : Miss 

 M. E. Herriott (Librarian), and Messrs. H. F. Skey, G. Holford, and Dr. F. J. Borrie. 



Meetings of the Institute. — Eight ordinary meetings and one additional ordinary 

 meeting were held at Christchurch. At the opening meeting Dr. C. C. Farr delivered 

 his presidential address, on " Some Physical Discoveries of the Last Thirty Years." 

 Lectures of general interest were delivered by the Hon. G. M. Thomson, on " The 

 Nat.ralization of Animals in New Zealand"; by Mr. R. G. Robinson, on "Phases of 

 Practical Forestry " ; by jMr. H. T. Ferrar, on " Aeroplane Surveying in Palestine " ; 

 and bj- Mr. A. V. Mountford, on " Leather." Fifteen technical papers were read, com- 

 prising botanical (five), chemical (four), geological (two), historical and general (two). 

 Exhibits of scientific interest were displayed by Messrs. R. G. Robinson — ^Indian 

 timbers; S. Page — variations in the genus Clematis; R. Nairn — Laburnum Adami ; 

 and W. Martin- — nme sjiecies of eucalypt attacked Ijy scale (Ericoccus coriaceum), and 

 a beetle (Paropsis sp.) causing much damage to the leaves. 



In accordance with a recommendation from the last aimual meeting, two meetings 

 of the Institute were held at Timaru and one at Ashburton, where the following 

 addresses were delivered : Dr. Charles Chilton, " Aims and Asijirations of the New 

 Zealand Institute " ; Dr. C. C. Farr, " The Building-stones of the Universe " : Dr. F. W. 

 Hilgendorf, " The Present Status of Darwmism " ; Mr. A. M. Wright, " Science and 

 Lidustry, with Special Reference to the Freezing Industry." These meetings were both 

 successful and well attended, and it is hoped the Institute will see its way to hold similar 

 meetings in the future. 



Membership. — The membership has been greatly increased during the year, mainly 

 as a result of the Science Congress held in February. From 177 in 1918 the number 

 has risen to 230 in 1919. Fifty-eight new members were elected, while five member- 

 ships lapsed. 



