Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. 529 



more await binding. It is hoped shortly to form a Pacific Section of the library, on 

 the lines of the Antarctic Section already existing. Several of the publications are 

 already available, and steps are being taken for opening up exchanges with other 

 scientific institutions whose researches bear on the Pacific. The following donations 

 of books and periodicals have been received by the honorary librarian : Dr. Chilton — 

 Shackleton's South and Davis's Voyage of the " Aurora " ; Mr. English — -Journal of the 

 Chemical Society ; Mr. L. P. Symes — Journal of the American Chemical Society. 



Riccarton Bush. — -The Institute's representative oil the board of trustees of 

 Riccarton Bush reports that the bush has been open to the public as usual during the 

 year, that improvements have been made as far as funds permitted, and that the bush 

 is in a very satisfactory condition. As stated in last year's report, the funds are 

 insufficient to effect any extensive improvements, and the Council commends this 

 object to members as worthy of their hearty support. 



Pan-Pacific Scientific Conference. — The Institute was represented at the Pan- 

 Pacific Scientific Conference at Honolulu in August, 1920, by Dr. Charles Chilton, who 

 reports that the Conference was successful even beyond the ardent expectations of its 

 promoters. It was attended by over a hundred representatives from all the countries 

 surrounding the Pacific, all of them, either from their own official position or from 

 their researches, being specially qualified to deal with the scientific problems presented 

 by the Pacific. The meetings were held in the Throne-room of the Capitol of Honolulu, 

 the morning meetings being occupied with general questions of interest to all the 

 members, and the afternoon meetings being devoted to the consideration of the more 

 special matters by the different sections of Anthropology, Biology, Botany, Entomology, 

 Geography, Geology, Seismology, and Volcanology. 



Dr. Gregory, Professor of Geology at Yale University and Director of the Bishop 

 Museum, was elected chairman of the Conference, and Dr. A. L. Dean, President of 

 the University of Hawaii, vice-chairman and secretary. Dr. Chilton was elected 

 leader of the Biology Section. Many matters dealing with the Pacific were discussed, 

 and much information received concerning the marine laboratories and other institutions 

 around the Pacific. The Samoan Geophysical Observatory, referred to later in this 

 report, was mentioned, and the hope expressed that a Director would speedily be 

 appointed to continue the important work already done. 



The second week of the Conference was spent in a visit to the active volcano of 

 Kilauea, the meetings of the section of Seismology and Volcanology being continued 

 at the volcano. The third week was mainly devoted to drawing up statements of the 

 principal problems in connection with the Pacific that require most urgent attention, 

 and in endeavouring to arrange for the co-operation of the different Governments and 

 institutions for the carrying-out of the work. It is hoped that the resolutions passed, 

 together with the proceedings of the meetings, will be issued shortly, while a second 

 part of the proceedings, containing papers read before the Conference, will be published 

 at a later date. Many of the subjects, especially those referring to the volcanological 

 research and matters connected with the Cook and Samoan Islands, are of peculiar 

 interest to New Zealand, and it is hoped that members of the Institute will be able to 

 assist in the work which has been outlined. The Institute is grateful for the hospitality 

 so liberally extended by the residents of Honolulu to the delegates to the Conference. 



Artesian Wells. — -An Artesian Wells Committee has been set up to carry on and 

 extend the work which was done by the committee of some years ago. It is proposed 

 to review the earlier work and records, and to make further investigations, including 

 systematic observations of water-level, a number of automatic recorders now being 

 available for this purpose. 



Samoan Geophysical Observatory. — Last year the Council reported having made 

 representations to the Hon. Minister of Marine urging the continuation of the observations 

 of the Samoan Geophysical Observatory. A committee set up by the New Zealand 

 Institute conferred with the Government in reference to the future conduct of the 

 Observatory, and has made recommendations by which it is hoped this important 

 observatory will be put on an Imperial footing. It is hoped that a Director will soon 

 be appointed. Mr. Westland has been appointed first scientific assistant, and will 

 shortly take up his new duties. 



Hutton Memorial Medal. — -The Hutton Memorial Medal, which was awarded by 

 the Board of Governors to Dr. Holloway, a member of this Institute, for researches in 

 botany, was, in the unavoidable absence of the President of the New Zealand Institute, 

 presented to Dr. Holloway by Dr. Chilton at the June meeting. 



Butler's House. — In February a deputation of the Council waited on the Hon. W. 

 Nosworthy in reference to the preservation of Butler's house and Sinclair's grave, 

 situated on his property at Mesopotamia. Though he could not see his way to transfer 

 these two sites to the Institute, Mr. Nosworthy sympathetically undertook to mark the 



