OTAGO INSTITUTE. 



First Meeting : 13th May, 1903. 



The President, Mr. A. Hamilton, delivered his presidential' 

 address dealing with the relation of the Government to various 

 scientific projects, such as the erection of bench-marks around 

 the coast, hydrographic surveys, magnetic surveys, marine 

 biological station, sylviculture, &c., and especially with the 

 proposed Maori Museum, concerning which he had issued a 

 circular to the members of the House of Representatives detail- 

 ing the functions and arrangement of such a nmseum. This 

 valuable address was printed m extenso in the Otago Daily' 

 Times. 



Second Meeting : 9th June, 1903. 

 Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. 



Professor Benham read a paper on " An Apparently New 

 Species of R galecus (B. parkeri)," and exhibited an excellent 

 painted cast of the fish, executed by Mr. B. Jennings, the 

 taxidermist of the Museum. 



Professor Benham exhibited specimens of a new leech 

 recently obtained at Open Bay Island during a biological 

 excursion by Messrs. L. Cockayne and Dunlop ; and a paper 

 entitled " A New Species of Leech {Hirudo antipodum)i 

 recently discovered in New Zealand " was laid on the table. 



Professor Park read a paper, '-The Jurassic Age of the 

 Maitai Formation," which was subjected to criticism by Dr. P. 

 Marshall. 



Dr. P. Marshall laid on the table a paper on "The Boulders 

 in Triassic Conglomerate at Nelson," of which he gave an 

 epitome. 



Mr. C. S. S. Cooper read a paper on "A New Experiment 

 in Light." 



Professor Park urged the Council of the Institute to take 

 steps to induce the Government to erect, at suitable places 

 along the coast, bench-marks, in order that accurate infor- 

 mation as to the secular movements by land and sea might 

 be available for future observers. 



The President promised that the Council should proceed in 

 the matter. 



