Otacjo Institute. 59 



foundod on his survey of this region, ah'eady pubUshed as a bulletin of 

 the Geological Survey. 



The address was ilhistrated by many jihoto-slides, sliowing the action of ice in its 

 various aspects. Tiic President deduced from the numerous facts ob.seived that at 

 one time, jn'obably in the Pleistocene period, the southern jiortion of the South Island 

 had been covered with an ice-sheet, some 7,500 ft. thick — in other words, that there 

 had been an Ice Age in New Zealand similar to that in the Northern Hemisphere. 



(A full account of the address was published in the Otago Daily Times 

 of the 12th May ; and a rejoinder, by Professor Marshall, in the same 

 paper on the 1.3th May.) 



Second Meeting, ditJi June, 1909. 

 The President, Professor Park, in the chair. 

 yeiv x¥p>»/;rr.s\— Miss A. D. Hancock, Mr. G. W Gibson. 



The financial result of the lecture • delivered by Lieutenant Shackleton 

 was announced, the proceeds being donated to the Karitane Home and to 

 the fund for erecting a Students' Hall at the University. 



Attention was directed to a book, " A New Zealand Naturalist's 

 Calendar," recently published by Mr. G. M. Thomson, F.L.8., containing 

 observations of local nature throughout the months. 



Reference was made to the efl'orts now being made to found a memorial 

 to the late Sir James Hector, F.R.S., and it was announced that this In- 

 stitute will contribute a sum of £10 10s. towards this object. 



Exhibits. — 1. Professor Benham explained the curious history of some 

 recently acc|uired ethnological articles from the South Sea islands (paddles, 

 clubs, &c.) which had formed part of a collection made during the voyages 

 of Captain Cook. 



2. A glass model of the CuUinan diamond was shown, and remarks there- 

 on made by Dr. Benham and Dr. Marshall. 



.3. Professor Park exhibited specimens of Actinocamax from Brighton, 

 which has also been found recently at Shag Point in association with Mesozoic 

 fossils : whence it is concluded that the Saddle Hill coal, hitherto regarded 

 as of Miocene age, must be Mesozoic. Specimens have been sent to Dr. 

 Bather, F.R.S., of the British Museum, for generic identification. 



Papers. — 1. " Notes on the Ground-temperature at Owaka," by J. T. 

 Bryant ; communicated by G. M. Thomson. 



Abstract. 



The observations recorded in the paper were commenced in connection with an 

 experiment to test the germinating-power of grass-seeds at midwinter. It was found 

 (at Owaka) that rye-grass seed sowni in a shallow pan, placed outside in a frame sheltered 

 with calico, grew quite freely. This led to a series of observations on (a) the tempera- 

 tures of the outside air, and that shown by a thermometer suspended in a t3-in.-deep 

 hole (h) in loose soil, and (c) in liard gi-ass-covered ground. Tlie records were made 

 twice a day, and each time a new hole was pierced. The observations were continued 

 for twelve months. 



The methods and apparatus employed were too imperfect to allow of much scientific 

 value being attached to the results, but a consideration of the records seems to show 



