MANAWATU PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 



Fifth Meeting : 2Qth September, 1909. 



Mr. W. F. Durward, Vice-President, in the chair. 



Paper. — A paper was read by Mr. Duncan Sinclair, entitled " A Few- 

 Unrecorded Incidents in the Early History of Wellington." 



The paper treated of the adventures of Mi\ Sinclair's father, «ho arrived in Port 

 Nicholson as agent for the late j\Ii\ James Coutts Crawford, and, after going round the 

 colony with him and making a voyage to the Chatham Islands, took a prominent part 

 in the early settlement of the Wellington Province. 



Sixth (Annual) Meeting : 18th November, 1909. 

 Captain Hewitt, R.N., in the chair. 

 The following is a summary of the annual report : — 



During the year seven general meetings were held, in addition to the conversazione- 

 which took place in March. At these meetings the following papers and addresses 

 were given : " Nerve and Muscle," by Professor H. B. Kirk, M.A. ; " The Waterloo 

 of the Waikato," by Mr. W. Welch, F.R.G.S. ; " Maori Reminiscences," by Mr. R. C. 

 Bruce ; " The Heart of the Southern Alps," by Dr. J. M. Boll ; " Unrecorded Incideiits 

 in the History of Wellington," by Mr. D. Sinclair ; " New Zealand Lycopodiums." by 

 the Rev. J. E. HoUoway, M.Sc. ; " Social Life in China," by Mr. Yung-hang-Hwang, 

 M.A. 



During the year 564 exhibits have heen added to the Museum, but more space is 

 urgently required for their proper display. 



Prizes were again offered for the best local collections of botanical and entomo- 

 logical specimens, but only one botanical entry -was received. 



The number of members on the roll is sixty-six, thirteen having resigned during 

 the year, and two new members having been elected. 



Captain Hewitt's report on the observatory shows that the institution is appreciated 

 by the ])ublic, and that observations are made regularly, especially in connection with 

 sunspots and magnetic distiu-bances. 



Seventh Meeting : 22nd November, 1909. 



Mr. M. a. Eliott, President, in the chair. 



Lecture. — Mr. Yung-hang-Hwang, M.A., the Chinese Consul, gave a 

 lecture on "Social Life in China." 



The lecture dealt in a most interesting manner with the social customs of the 

 Chinese, tracing the historical origin of the customs, and showing their influence on the 

 life of the people. 



The lecture was listened to with marked attention by the large audience present, 

 and at the chjse a hearty vote of thanks was given to Mr. Hwang, and a hope was 

 expressed that he might be induced to deliver further lectures of a similar nature. 



Election of Officers for 1910. — President — Mr. W. F. Durward ; 

 Vice-Presidents — Mr. A. A. Glendinning and Dr. W. R. Stowe ; Hon. Secre- 

 tary and Treasurer — Mr. K. Wilson, M.A. ; Auditor — Mr. R. N. Keating ; 

 Offlcer in charge of the Observatory — Captain Hewitt, R.N. ; Council — Messrs. 

 Barnicoat, Cohen, Eliott, Hoben, Vernon, and Dr. Martin. 



New Members. — Messrs. A. Macdonald, J. Mounsey, G. H. Bennett, and 

 C. N. Taplin. 



