Otago Institute. 581 



Seventh Meeting : 12th November, 1907. 

 The President, Dr. R. Fulton, in the chair. 



Dr. Hocken referred in feeling and appreciative terms to the 

 recent death of Mr. A. Beverley, the inventor of the planimeter. 



Mr. G. M. Thomson moved a resolution of regret at the 

 death of Sir James Hector, and of condolence with the family. 

 Dr. Hocken. in seconding, gave some interesting details of Sir 

 James's early expeditions in the colony. 



Paper. — " Some Alkaline and Nepheline Rocks from West- 

 land," by Mr. J. P. Smith (p. 122). 



Lecture. — Mr. W. G. Grave gave an illustrated lecture on 

 ** Explorations at the West Coast." 



Annual Meeting. 



The annual meeting was then held, the President, Dr. R. 

 Pulton, being in the chair. 



The following is a summary of the annual report for 1907 : — 



Three matters of importance have engaged the attention of the Coun- 

 cil, each having for its aim the furtherance of science in the Dominion : 

 (1) The repeated efforts of this and the other Institutes to have a botanical 

 survey made by the Dominion have resulted in the appointment of Dr. 

 L. Cockayne to survey and report upon the State forest of Wairoua. 

 (2.) The successful outcome of the efforts of the Philosophical Institute of 

 Canterbury, backed by this Institute, in the despatch of a scientific 

 expedition to the southern islands, which leaves the Bluff on the 13th 

 November. (3.) Representations have been made to the Colonial Secre- 

 tary and to the Attorney- General as to the necessity of providing by law 

 for further protection of birds : this was the outcome of a conference 

 between bodies interested, held at the suggestion of Dr. Fulton. 



The death of Sir James Hector, K.C.M.G., received fitting reference, 

 expressive of the appreciation of the varied work performed by him in 

 geology and zoology, and as manager of the New Zealand Institute. 



A list of books added to the library and of the papers read before the 

 Institute during this session were appended to the report. 



The total number of members now stands at 116. 



Strong dissatisfaction was expressed at the unreasonable 

 delay in the issue of the Transactions for 1906. 



The Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J. C. Thomson, submitted a balance- 

 sheet, duly audited by Mr. D. Brent, from which it appeared 

 that the income was £374 lis., and the expenditure £118 15s., 

 showing a credit balance of £256 9s. 7d. 



Election of Officers for 1908. — President — Dr. Hocken ; 

 Vice-Presidents — Dr. Fulton, Professor Park ; Hon. Treasurer — 

 Mr. J. C. Thomson ; Hon. Secretary and Librarian — Dr. Benham ; 

 Council — Messrs. A. Bathgate, G. M. Thomson, D. B. Waters, 

 Dr. Marshall, Professor Malcolm, Dr. Riley, and Mr. G. A. 

 Rawson ; Hon. Auditor — Mr. D. Brent, M.A. 



