Olago Institute. ^;>^p 'a*7"'s^ 505 



OTAGO INSTITUTK. 



— f V> 



Eight ordinary meetings iiad been arranged fur, but one of these lapsed 

 owing to the date being the 12th November, the day on which news of the 

 Armistice reached New Zealand. 



At these meetings the following papers, embodying the results of research 

 work, were read or received : '' On Two Anomalies of the Vascular System 

 of Hyla aurea/' by Professor W. B. Benhani, F.R.S. ; " Notes on the Birds 

 of South-west Otago," by A. Philpott ; " Descriptions of New Species of 

 Lepidoptera," by A. Philpott ; " Some Remarks on Maori Fish-hooks/" by 

 H. I). Skinner, B.A. ; "' EarthworuLS from Stephen Island,"" by Professor 

 W. B. Benham, F.R.S. ; " Notes on the Autecology of certain Plants of 

 the Peridotite Belt, Nelson, Part 1 — Structure of some of the Plants (No. 2),"" 

 by Miss ^l. W. Betts, M.Sc. ; " On the Occurrence of Three Bands of Marl)h' 

 in South Peak, near Hampden, Otago," by J. Paik. F.G.S. 



The following addresses were also delivered during the session : '' Flying "" 

 (presidential address), by Professor R. Jack ; " l^nderground Warfare,"" by 

 Professor D. B. Waters ; " Radio-activity," by Professor Jack, Professor 

 Inglis, and !3r. (lameron ; '' New Caledonia and the Isle of Pines," by Pro- 

 fessor J. Park ; " Corals and Coral Reefs," by Professor W. N. Benson ; 

 besides various short addresses and exhibits bv Profi^ssor Benham, Mr. 

 W. G. Howes, Dr. Fulton, and Mr. H. D. Skinner. 



At the annual meeting (lOth December) the annual report, including the 

 balance-sheet, was adopted, and the following were elected office-bearers for 

 1919 : President — Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C. Vice-Presidents — Professor 

 R. Jack and Dr. R. V. Fulton. Hon. Secretart/ — Professor J. Malcolm. 

 Hon. Treasurer—Mv. H. Brasch. Hon. Auditor- Mr. J. W. Milnes. Hon. 

 Librarian — Professor Benham. Council — Professor Benham, Professor Pai'k, 

 Professor Benson, Messrs. W. G. Howes, H. Mandeno, J. A. Gray, and 

 F. J. Jones. 



Abstract of Annu.\l Report. 



Besides the routine work of arrautiing for the meetings, passing accovuits foi- pay- 

 ment, and sanctioning expenditnie on the library and meeting-room, only two matters 

 of general interest occuj^ied the attention of the Council timing 1918. 



A further stage in the proposals for reform of the New Zealand Institute was 

 reached when the draft regulations for the holding and appointment of Fellows of the 

 New Zealand Institute were considered and sent to tlic Institute with suggestions 

 regarding certain of the clauses. 



A circular letter was sent to the afhliated societies asking tlieir co-operation in 

 securing, through the New Zealand Institute and the Government, more efficient pi'o 

 tection for native wild birds and seals in New Zealand. 



The Council also decided to offer to the University Coumil to pay half the cost of 

 installation of electric light in th( liiology class-roo7n, with a view to installation of a 

 projection lantern. 



During the year seven new members have been elected ; live have resigned, .so 

 that the roll now stands at 16(j. Sixteen of these are, or have been, members of the 

 New Zealand Expeditionary Force. 



The Institute regrets having kjst the services of Mr. B. J. Parr, M.A., B.Sc, as 

 Hon. Secretarj', a position he filled with great success for over sc^ven years. 



