Wellington Philosophical Society. ~>~>\ 



Members. — The total number of members of the Astronomical Section is 

 about fifty-one. 



Committee and Officers for 1917. Hon. Member Miss Mary Proctor, 

 F.R.A.S. ; Chairman— Mr. W. S. La Trobe, M.A. ; Vice-Chairmen Mr. 

 C. P. Powles, Professor D. M. Y. Sommerville, Dr. C. E. Adams : Committee 

 —Mr. W. E. Spencer, Mr. G. Hogben, Mr. E. Parry, Mr. A. C. Gifford. Dr. 

 C. M. Hector. Captain G. Hooper, Miss C. ffelyer : Director and Curator of 

 Instruments Dr. C. E. Adams; Hon. Treasurer — Mr. C..P. Powles: Hon. 

 Secretary Mr. C. G. G. Berry. 



GEOLOGICAL SE< TI ON. 



During the year seven meetings have been held, with an average attend- 

 ance of fourteen. The papers read have dealt with widely different aspects 

 of geology, and, together with the numerous exhibits, have combined to 

 maintain interest in the meetings, and to mark the year as one of steady 

 progress. 



The following papers have been read : J. A. Bartrum, " A Phase of 

 Shore-line Erosion " : S. S. Buckman, " Terminology for Foraminal De- 

 velopment in Terebratuloids " : C. A. Cotton, " The Continental Shelf " : 

 W. Gibson and M. Ongley, " The Geology of Petroleum " ; J. Henderson, 

 " The Structure of the Paparoa Range '" : R. W. Holmes, " An Artesian 

 Trial Bore at Westshore. Napier " ; P. G. Morgan, " Notes of a Visit to 

 Marlborough and North Canterbury, with Especial Reference to Uncon- 

 formities post-dating the Amuri Limestone : J. A. Thomson. : ' Stage 

 Names applicable to the Divisions of the Tertiary in New Zealand " : 

 G. H. Uttley, " The Volcanic Rocks of Oamaru." 



Election of Officers for 1911. Chairman- C. A. Cotton, D.Sc, F.G.S. ; 

 Vice-Chairman J. Henderson, M.A., D.Sc, B.Sc. (Eng.) ; Hon. Secretary 

 — E. K. Lomas, M.A., M.Sc. : Committee The above and Messrs. Holmes, 

 Morgan, Ongley, Dr. Thomson, and Mr. Uttley. 



TECHNOL* )( ! K !AL SE< ITION. 



Papers were read during the year as follows : (31st May) " Electricity 

 in the Smelting and Refining of Iron,'" E. Parry. B.Sc. A.M.Inst.C.E. ; 

 (14th June) " The Thomas Transmission System as applied to Road and 

 Rail Traction."" K. .1. Thomson. M.I.A.E., M.I.E.E. ; (12th July) "Coal 

 Resources of New Zealand, with Some Consideration of its Economic Use," 

 P. G. Morgan, M.A., F.G.S. : (9th August) " Design and Construction of 

 Ferro - concrete Structures, with Special Reference to Marine Works," 

 J. E. L. Cull, A.M.I.M.E. ; (11th October) " Alloys from the Point of View 

 of Modern Chemistry," Professor Easterfield. M.A., Ph.D. Mr. Cull also 

 gave the results of the tests of some steel rolled at the Otago ironworks, 

 and Mr. Parry exhibited an Edison storage battery, some aluminium wire 

 corroded while in electrical use, and some samples of aluminium soldered 

 by a new process invented by two New-Zealanders. 



On the 13th September Mr. W. S. La Trobe, M.A.. conducted the section 

 through the Wellington Technical College. 



The office-bearers for 1917 were elected as follows: Chairman F. W. 

 Furkert. A.M.Inst.C.E. Vice- Chairmen J. Marchbanks, M.Inst.C.E. ; 

 E. Parry, A.M.Inst.C.E. Committee W. Eerguson. B.E., M.Inst.C.E ; 

 A. Atkins. F.R.I.B.A., A.M.Inst.C.E.; R. W. Holmes, M.Inst.C.E.; 

 H. Sladden, Member Surveyors" Board : J. S. Maclaurin. D.Sc, F.C.S. 

 Secretary- S. H. Jenkinson. 



