MANAWATU PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



1909. 



First Meeting: 18th March, 1909. 



M. A. Eliott, Esq., President, in the chair. 



Professor H. B. Kirk, M.A., of Victoria College, gave an interesting 

 popular lecture on " Nerve and Muscle," illustrated by a practical demon- 

 stration of muscular action as displayed by the aid of electricity in the 

 body of a recently killed kitten. 



The lecturer traced the gradual development of muscular and nervous action, front 

 the lowest known form of animal life, the amoeba, in which nerve and muscle are not 

 differentiated, to their greatest perfection in man. 



Annual Conversazione : 22n(l March, 1909. 

 Over two hundred guests were present. 

 The outgoing President, Mr. Cohen, gave a short address. 



In this he made special reference to the rapid increase of contributions to the 

 Museimi, and the consequent need for better accommodation ; and also to the prizes 

 again to be offered this year by the Council for the best collections of botanical and 

 entomological specimens made in the district. 



Exhibits. — 1. A series of lantern-slides illustrating the development of 

 different forms of bacteria, by Dr. Martin. 



2. Apparatus demonstrating the effect of electro-magnetic waves on a 

 Marconi coherer ; harmonograph ; apparatus for drawing geometrical fig- 

 ures demonstrating the principle of the geometric lathe ; Newton's gyro- 

 scopic top ; electrical discharge in vacuo, and spark-efTects ; microscopic 

 slides of diatoms, Polycistince, &c. ; and spinthariscope : all by Dr. Stowe. 



Second Meeting : 29th April 1909. 

 M. A. EUott, Esq., President, in the chair. 



New Members. — F. E. Goldingham (Palmerston), and John Stevens 

 (Bull's). 



The President called the attention of members to the appeal made by 

 the New Zealand Institute for the Hector Memorial Fund. 



Paper.—" The Waterloo of the Waikato, fought in 1830, and its Effects 

 on the After-enacted Land-laws of that Part of the North Island." bv 

 W. Welch. 



