546 Proceedings. 



Eight meetings of the Institute have been held during the year, at which the 

 following addresses were delivered: "Nitrates and the War" (ex-presidential 

 address), by Dr. W. P. Evans; "Flight," by Professor E. J. Scott; "Biology and 

 Economics of Bread," by Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf ; also a "Microscopical Evening" 

 was held under the direction of Mr. C. B. Morris. In addition to these, twenty- 

 one papers have been read, which may be classified as follow : Botany, 7 ; geology, 4 ; 

 mathematics, 1; zoology, 6; engineering, 2; chemistry, 1. 



During the year twenty-six new members have been elected, and eleven have 

 either resigned or have been struck off the roll, so that the number now stands 

 at 179. 



The Council desires to place on record that the following members of the 

 Institute are now on active service in various parts of the Empire : Hon. R. 

 Heaton Rhodes, Drs. Acland, Irving, and Whetter, Messrs. L. S. Jennings, 

 H. Lang, F. S. Wilding, A. Taylor, and Major A. A. Dorrien Smith, D.S.O. 



Arthur's Pass Tunnel Investigation : The usual temperature observations have 

 been continued, and specimens of rock were received for examination, thus keeping 

 the series complete. 



The Council at several of its meetings during the year had under consideration 

 the question of the publication of an account of the natural history of Canterbury, 

 but after due consideration, while approving of the scheme, the Council decided 

 that, in view of the present war-conditions, further consideration of the matter 

 should be postponed until 1916. The Council desires to express its appreciation 

 to Mr. T. D. Burnett, who has offered to donate the sum of £10 towards a certain 

 portion of this investigation. 



The Institute's representative on the Board of Trustees of the Riccarton Bush 

 leports that the control of the bush has been taken over by the trustees and a 

 Ranger appointed. The bush has been securely fenced, elderberry and other intro- 

 duced plants are being carefully removed, and a few narrow paths have been made. 

 It is hoped, as soon as sufficient funds are available, to erect a cottage for the 

 Ranger, and to allow the bush to be visited by members of the public under the 

 conditions necessary for its due preservation. 



The library has been maintained in an efficient condition during the past year, 

 and has been considerably increased by various gifts and purchases. 



The balance-sheet shows that during the year the receipts were £227 2s. lid. 

 This includes a balance of £22 lis. 5d. carried forward from last year, and a sum 

 of £52 transferred to the ordinary account from deposit with the Permanent 

 Investment and Loan Association. The expenditure amounted to £112 13s. 3d., 

 of which £73 12s. was spent on the library. The balance to the credit of the 

 Institute in the Bank of New Zealand stands at £114 9s. 8d. The Council has 

 decided to accord all members who are on active service the privilege of member- 

 ship without payment of subscriptions. 



Election of Officers for 1916. — President — Mr. L. Birks ; Vice-Pre- 

 sidents — Messrs. A. D. Dobson and R. Speight; Secretary — Mr. A. M. 

 Wright; Treasurer — Dr. Charles Chilton; Librarian — Mr. E. G. Hogg; 

 Council — Drs. F. J. Borrie, C. Coleridge Farr, and F. W. Hilgendorf, 

 and Messrs. R. M. Laing, G. E. Archey, and L. P. Symes; Eepresenta- 

 tives on the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute — Dr. 

 Hilgendorf and Mr. A. M. Wright: Auditor— Mr . G. E. W^ay. 



Papers. — 1. "Studies on the Lime Requirements of certain Soils." 

 by Mr. L. J. Wild. 



2. "The Succession of Tertiary Beds in the Pareora District," by 

 Mr. M. C. Gudex. 



3. " Notes from the Canterbury College Mountain Biological 

 Station": "No. 2, The Physiography of the Cass District, by :\Ir. R. 

 Speight; " No. 3, Some Economic Considerations concerning Montane 

 Tussock Grassland," by Mr. A. H. Cockayne; "No. 4, The Principal 

 Plant Associations in the Immediate Neighbourhood of the Station," by 

 Dr. L. Cockayne and Mr. C. E. Fqweraker. 



