Otago Institute. 497 



Research Grants.^In response to the announcement made by the New Zealand 

 Institute that a sum of £2,000 had been allocated by Government for research purjjoses, 

 three applications were sent in from the Otago members, and were afterwards approved 

 of, viz. — (1) From W. G. Howes, F.E.S., for £30 to defray expenses connected with 

 his work on entomology to be carried out in co-operation with Dr. Tillyard, of Sydney ; 

 (2) from G. S. Thomson, B.Sc, for £50 for expenses connected with the study of the 

 composition of " whale-feed " ; (3) from Professor J. Malcolm, for £250 for a research 

 into the food value and composition of New Zealand fishes. 



Dr. Tillyard' s Visit. — Towards the end of last year this Institute, at the suggestion 

 of the Council, invited Dr. Tillyard, of Sydney, to visit this part of New Zealand to 

 investigate some of the local entomology. Owing to shipping difficulties the visit 

 had to be postponed till this year, and Dr. Tillyard is now in the Dominion. The 

 Council has set aside the sum of £20 to defray part of the cost of his visit. 



Jubilee of the Institute. — The celebration of the Jubilee took the form of a conver- 

 sazione in the University. Invitations were sent to the other afifihated societies and to 

 the other' scientific bodies in New Zealand and Australia, as well as to prominent men in 

 the Dominion. A large number of congratulatory letters were received. The Council 

 begs to express its thanks to the University Council for granting the use of their 

 buildings and apparatus on this occasion. 



Election of Officers for 1920. — President — Dr. R. V. Fulton. Vice- 

 Presidents— Hon. G. M. Thomson, F.L.S., F.N.Z.Inst., M.L.C., and W. G. 

 Howes, F.E.S. Hon. Secretary — Professor W. N. Benson, B.A., D.Sc, F.G.S. 

 Hon. Treasurer — H. Brasch. Hon. Librarian — Professor W. B. Benham, 

 M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. Council—ProiesHov W. B. Benham, M.A., D.Sc, F.R.S. ; 

 Professor R. Jack, D.Sc. ; Professor J. Park, F.G.S. ; Professor J. Malcolm, 

 M.D. ; Messrs. H. Mandeno, H. D. Skinner, B.A., and G. S. Thomson, B.Sc. 



TECHNOLOGICAL BRANCH. 



At the commencement of the session the committee of this Branch decided not 

 to attempt a syllabus. 



The members were convened for the annual and only meeting on the occasion of 

 a lecture by the Chairman of the Branch (Professor Waters) before the parent Institute, 

 on the 14th October, 1919. The annual meeting was not well supported, and was 

 adjourned till next year. 



ASTRONOMICAL BRANCH. 



The annua] meeting, on the 9th December, was the only meeting held, Mr. R. 

 Gilkison, Chairman of the Branch, in the chair. The Branch is looking forward to a 

 reawakening of interest in its special subject now that the war is over, and the 

 following office-bearers for 1920 were elected : Chairman, Mr. R. Gilkison ; Vice- 

 Chairmen — Professor Jack, Professor Park, and Professor White ; Committee — Rev. 

 D. Dutton, F.R.A.S., Dr. P. D. Cameron, Messrs. H. Brasch and C. Frye ; Hon. 

 Secretary — Mr. J. C. Begg. 



MANAWATU PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



Ten meetings of the Council and nine general meetings were held, at 

 which the following papers were read : Dr. E. C. Barnett, " Medical 

 Experiences at the Front " ; Mr. Black, Curator of Borough Reserves, 

 " Noxious Weeds " ; J. W. Poynton, S.M., " Radium " ; W. R. Mummery, 

 F.I.C., " The' Action of CoUosols in relation to Bacteriology " ; W. E. 

 Bendall, " Kapiti as a Reserve for Native Flora and Fauna " ; Miss Ironside, 



