Otacjo Institute* 385 



The late Mr. A. Hamilton. — During the year there has passed away, in the person 

 of Mr. A. Hamilton, Director of the Dominion Museum, Wellington, one of the most 

 active workers in scientific research in this country. Mr. Hamilton at different times 

 acted as President, Secretary, and member of the Council of this Institute, and at the 

 time of his death he was a life member. The Institute has placed on record its keen 

 sense of regret at Mr. Hamilton's loss, and its appreciation of his valuable work in con- 

 nection with the fauna and the ethnology of the Dominion. 



Technological Branch. — The work of this branch for the past year may be con- 

 sidered to have been quite satisfactory. Six new members were introduced, and the 

 resignations of four were accepted. 



The following lectures were delivered during the session : Mr. L. O. Beal — " Coal- 

 mining Operations " ; Captain S. G. Sandle — " The Evolution of Artillery " ; Mr. G. W. 

 Davies — " Modern Methods of Heating Buildings " ; Mr. J. H. Scott — " Mechanical 

 Refrigeration " ; Mr. F. W. Payne — " Notes on Centrifugal Pumps " ; Professor Waters 

 — " The Cyanide Process " ; Mr. R. N. Vanes — "Design, from a Technical Standpointj" ; 

 Mr. J. Blair Mason — ''Improvement Works in Otago Harbour." 



The average attendance at meetings works out slightly over twenty-two. 



Astronomical Branch. — Your Committee begs to report that for the first time since 

 the inception of this branch a syllabus of lectures was arranged for the year, and has 

 been carried out, all meetings having been well attended. 



The following papers were read : " The History of Astronomical Research," Mr. 

 Gilkison ; " Reflecting Telescopes," Mr. Payne ; " Objects of Interest in the Evening 

 Sky in the Month of June, 1913," Rev. D. Dutton, F.R.A.S. ; " New Instruments and 

 Methods in Solar Research," Rev. P. W. Fairclough, F.R.A.S. ; " On finding Latitude 

 and Longitude," Dr. Cameron ; " Methods of observing to eliminate the Periodic Errors 

 affecting the Readings of the Graduated Circles in Astronomical and Surveying Instru- 

 ments," Mr. W. T. Neill. Besides these lectures, the branch was fortunate in securing an 

 address from the Rev. T. Roseby, LL.D., F.R.A.S., of Sydney. A lecture by Miss Mary 

 Proctor was given in aid of a solar physics observatory on the 31st March, 1913, under 

 the auspices of this branch, on " The Southern Cross and other Wonders of the Skies." 

 The net profit was £9 4s., from which £4 4s. was handed over to Miss Proctor as per 

 agreement, and £5 was paid to the Observatory Fund with the Public Trustee. As 

 the whole of the necessary funds for the observatory have since been provided by Mr. 

 Cawthron, of Nelson, no doubt some application in the matter will be made henceforth 

 to this society by the Public Trustee. 



Your Committee has erected during the year the small observatory on Tanna Hill, 

 in which are fitted up the Skey telescope (10 in.) and the Beverley telescope (3 in.). 

 The total cost of the building, including foundations, fences, &c, was £125 Is. Id., which 

 has used up all the accumulated funds of the branch. By arrangement, the Institute 

 allows this branch £20 per annum for ordinary expenses. 



A commencement has been made with forming an astronomical library. One work, 

 Webb's " Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes," was presented by Mr. T. J. 

 Walker, and a number of works were ordered by the Institute Council. These will 

 form part of the Institute's fine library, now kept at the Museum. 



The branch is much indebted to Mr. F. W. Payne for the plans of the observatory 

 and supervising the erection of the same, as well as his constant attention to the instru- 

 ments. It also owes a vote of thanks to its energetic Secretary, Mr. Megget, for his 

 unflagging efforts on its behalf. 



Membership. — During the year twelve new members have been elected, six of whom 

 belonged to the Technological and two to the Astronomical Branch. On the other hand, 

 thirty-seven members have resigned or have been struck off, owing chiefly to removals 

 from the Dominion, and three members — Messrs. Michael Elliot, Augustus Hamilton, 

 and J. M. Ritchie — have been removed by death. The membership roll, therefore, has 

 suffered a net decrease of twenty-eight, and now stands at 226. 



Librarians Report. — At the request of the Astronomical Branch, seven books 

 on astronomy have been purchased, and a journal subscribed to. Some of these are 

 popular in style ; others are of a technical nature, more suitable for students of 

 the subject. 



All the astronomical works have been placed on a shelf, specially labelled, near the 

 door. 



The Institute has to acknowledge the gift by the Hocken Library trustees of a copy 

 of the " Catalogue of the Hocken Library," compiled by Mr. W. H. Trimble. 



Two new periodicals have been subscribed for — namely, " Bedrock," a journal 

 dealing in a rather popular fashion with current scientific problems of all kinds, and 

 the " Journal of the British Astronomical Association." 



13— Trans. 



