Manawatu Philosophical Society. 507 



MANAWATU PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



Seven general meeting were lield during the year, at which the following 

 papers were read : " The Ethics of the British Constitution," by Lance- 

 Corpoml C. E. Ferris. N.Z.M.C. ; " The Origin of Ocean Currents," by A. W. 

 Burrell : "" Mangahao versus Waikaremoana as Sources of Electric Power," 

 by C. N. Clausen ; " The Panama Canal," by Captain Spence, N.Z.M.C. ; 

 '•"The Hot Springs of Querta del Inca," by W. K Mummery, F.I.C. ; 

 " Mountains," by'^Dr. C. A. Cotton, D.Sc. 



Abstract of Annual Report. 



As the result of an aijpiication by the society for an annual subsidy the Borough 

 Council has granted a subsidy of £10. 



At the annual meeting of the 13th December, 1917, it was resolved that the number 

 of members of Council be increased from six to twelve. This resolution was confirmed 

 at a general meeting held on the 8th March. 



Uurmg the year five new members were elected, and two, Drs. Stowe and Barnett, 

 who had been on active service, returned. 



With very deep regret the Council has to record the loss which the society, in 

 common with the town and district, has suffered bj^ the death of Mr. J. E. Vernon, 

 M.A., B.Sc, Rector of the High School, who was a member of the society from its 

 foundation, constantly occupied a seat on the Council, and served the office of 

 President. Another member has been removed by death in the person of Mr. David 

 Buick, M.P., who was at all times ready to use the influence of his position to further 

 the interests of the society. 



The Council is also about to lose, though happily in this case only by his official 

 removal from Palmerston, another most valued member in Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M., 

 who, ever since his coming to Palmerston, has been a most active member of Council, 

 has for three successive years been President, and has contributed many valuable 

 papers. 



The attendance at the Museum has kept up to the average of from twenty-five to 

 thirty each afternoon, but the majority of these are quite young, and it is still a matter 

 of regret that their visits are not made more systematically and under due supervision. 

 A good many additions have been made to the Museum, including a collection of about 

 fifty moths and butterflies from Dr. Thomson, curios from the Solomon Islands presented 

 by Archdeacon Comins, and a number of pamphlets and leaflets relating to the war 

 from the British Museum. 



There is little doubt that the ab.sorbing interest of the war has had a bad efiect 

 both on the number of our subscribers and the attendance at our meetings, and now 

 that there is a prospect of a speedy return to normal conditions we may hope for an 

 improvement .in both. 



The officers for the year 1919 were elected as follows : President — 

 Mr. M. A. Eliott. Vice- Presidents — Messrs. J. A. Colquhoun, M.Sc. ; 

 C. N. Clausen. Officer in Charge of (he Observatorij — Mr. R. A. H. Grace. 

 Council — Miss Ironside, M.A. ; Messrs. J. L Barnicoat ; R. Edwards ; 

 J. B. Gerrand ; E. Larcomb ; W. R. Mummery, F.I.C. ; W. Park ; C. T. 

 Salmon, Associate in Eng. ; H. Seifert ; D. Sinclair, C.E. ; A. Whitaker. 

 Secretary and Treasurer — K. Wilson, M.A. Avditor — W. E. Bendall, 

 F.I.A.N.Z. 



