494 Proceedings. 



that officers of the Department of Agriculture had carried out extensive investigations 

 into the cause and treatment of yellow-leaf disease in New Zealand flax, and some 

 experimental work initiated by them was still in progress ; and that, as it was intended 

 to continue the investigations, it was not considered necessary to provide funds for the 

 Oawthron Institute to deal with the matter. 



Thermal Regions of New Zealand. — A resolution passed on the 31st January, 1914, 

 at the twelth annual meeting, to the effect that the Government be urged to undertake 

 the preparation of a complete scientific report on the thermal regions of the North 

 Island, and that the matter of choosing a time for approaching the Government be 

 left in the hands of the Standing Committee, with power to act, has not yet been put 

 into effect, as the Standing Committee has not considered the time opportune for 

 approaching the Government on the matter. 



Kapiti Island. — A committee was last year set up by the Hon. Minister of Lands, 

 who asked that a member to act on that committee be appointed by the Standing 

 Committee to represent the Institute. Professor Kirk was accordingly appointed by 

 the Standing Committee to represent the New Zealand Institute. It is to be regretted 

 that the clause in the " washing-up " Bill empowering the Government to purchase the 

 native interests in this island was thrown out by the Native Committee. 



Science Congress, Palmerston North. — The invitation of the Manawatu Philosophical 

 Society to hold a Science Congress in Palmerston North in 1921 having been accepted, 

 it was decided to place the Manawatu Society on the same footing as the Philosophical 

 Institute of Canterbury had been placed when the Congress was held in Christchurch, 

 with the exception that certain officers were appointed by the Standing Committee 

 to be Presidents and Secretaries of the various sections, and on these officers devolved 

 the responsibility of carrying out the arrangements and work of their particular 

 sections. Dr. J. Allan Thomson was also appointed Hon. Secretary of the Scientific 

 Programme. It was resolved, too, that twenty guests, to be entertained by the 

 Manawatu Philosophical Society, should be invited by the Institute. 



Hamilton Prize. — Negotiations between the Standing Committee and representa- 

 tives of the Wellington Philosophical Society had been entered into with- a view to 

 formulate the rules and regulations which should govern the yearly award of the 

 Hamilton Prize. A draft of the rules which have been drawn up by the President in 

 consultation with Mr. Von Haast is as follows : — 



" Rules and Regulations made by the Governors of the New Zealand Institute in relation 



to the Hamilton Memorial Fund. 



" 1. The fund placed in the hands of the Board by the Wellington Philosophical 

 Society shall be called ' The Hamilton Memorial Fund,'' in memory of the late 

 Augustus Hamilton, Esq. Such fund shall consist of the moneys subscribed and 

 granted for the purpose of the memorial and all other funds which may be given or 

 granted for the same purpose. 



" 2. The fund shall be vested in the Institute. The Board of Governors of the 

 Institute shall have the control thereof, and shall invest the same in the Common 

 Fund of the Public Trust Office. 



" 3. The memorial shall be a prize to be called ' The Hamilton Memorial Prize,' 

 the object of which shall be the encouragement of beginners in scientific research in 

 New Zealand. 



" 4. The prize shall be awarded at intervals of not less than three years by the 

 Governors assembled in annual meeting, but in no case shall an award be made unless 

 in the opinion of the Governors some contribution deserving of the honour has been 

 made. The first award shall be made at the annual meeting of the Governors in 1922. 



" 5. The prize shall be awarded for scientific research work carried out in New 

 Zealand or in the islands of the South Pacific Ocean, which has been published within 

 the five years preceding the 1st day of July prior to the annual meeting at which the 

 award is made. Such publication may consist of one or more papers and shall include 

 the first investigation published by the author. No candidate shall be eligible for the 

 prize who prior to such period of five years has published the result of any scientific 

 investigation. 



" 6. The prize shall consist of money. Until the principal of the fund amounts 

 to £100, one-half of the interest shall be added annually to the principal and the other 

 half shall be applied towards the payment of the prize. So soon as the said principal 

 amounts to £100, the whole of the interest thereon shall be applied in payment of 

 the prize, in each case after the payment of all expenses necessarily incurred by the 

 Governors in the investment and administration of the said fund and the award of 

 the said prize. 



