80 Proceedings. 



AUCKLAND INSTITUTE. 



Fifth Meeting : 23 rd October, 1911. 



Mr. J. H. Upton, President, in the chair. 



New Members. — Messrs. L. W. Alexander, R. Hall, Dr. Marchesini. 



Lecture. — " The Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula," by E. K. 

 Mulgan, M.A. 



In this lecture, which was copiously illustrated by lantern-views, the physical 

 structure of the Canterbury Plains was fully described, and it was shown that the 

 material composing the plains had been derived from the Southern Alps mainly at 

 a time when the climatic and other conditions were more favourable than now for 

 the supply and transportation of debris of all kinds. The lecture also explained the 

 source of the artesian-water supply at Christchurch and elsewhere on the plains. 

 The structure and formation of Banks Peninsula were then briefly described, and 

 the lecturer showed how volcanic agencies could be proved to be responsible for the 

 formation of Lyttelton Harbour and Akaroa Harbour. The lecture concluded with 

 an account of the loess-deposits on Banks Peninsula and certain portions of the 

 Canterbury Plains. 



Sixth Meeting : 28th November, 1911. 



Mr. J. H. Upton, President, in the chair. 



New Members. — T. Finlayson, E. Gerard, Dr. P. A. Lindsay, T. F. 

 Wallace. 



Papers. — 1. " Descriptions of New Native Species of Phanerogams," 

 by D. Petrie, Ph.D. 



2. " On Danthonia nuda and Triodia Thomso?ii," by D. Petrie, 

 Ph.D. 



3. " New Genera and Species of Coleoptera," by Major T. Broun. 



4. "On a New Genus and some New Species of Plants," by T. F. 

 Cheeseman, F.L.'S. 



5. " List of Lichens and Fungi collected in the Kermadec Islands 

 in 1908," by W. R. B. Oliver. 



6. " The Geographic Relationships of the Birds of the Lord Howe, 

 Norfolk, and Kermadec Islands," by W. R. B. Oliver. 



In illustration of the last paper Mr. Oliver exhibited an interesting series of 

 lantern-views, based on photographs obtained by him in the Kermadec Islands in 

 1908, and which clearly showed how largely the Islands are used as a breeding-place 

 by certain species of petrels, terns, &c. He also gave many interesting particulars 

 respecting the habits of the various species. 



Professor A. P. W. Thomas spoke in commendation of the paper. He pointed 

 out that it was one of the results of a scientific expedition made to the Kermadec 

 Islands by a party of naturalists who were isolated there for eleven months. It 

 was exceedingly satisfactory to find that there was sufficient enthusiasm in the 

 pursuit of natural science to bring about such an expedition, and to produce such 

 satisfactory results. 



