PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF 

 CANTERBUEY. 



FiKST Meeting : 7th May, 1890. 



J. T. Meeson, B.A., President, in the chair. 



Paper.— "T\\Q Eaiufall of New Zealand (Part I.)." by 

 J. T. Meeson, B.A. {Transactions, p. 546.) 



Professor Hutton agreed with iwost of Mr. Meeson's paper ; and 

 pointed out tliat, witli the exception of the Beale}', all the meteorological 

 observations were coastal. Further observations no doubt would show 

 less average rainfall, and perhaps greater extremes of temperature. 

 Forest-growth might be expected to give a fair idea of the general rain- 

 record ; and this is the case, for the amount of rainfall and forest-growth 

 agree well, with but slight exceptions. 



Mr. Meeson, in reply, stated that the Bealey and Rotorua were the 

 only two inland stations, and that statistics were wanted not only as 

 to rainfall, but as to other meteorological phenomena, and he thought 

 that money might be better spent on such statistics than on the Signal 

 Service Department. 



Second Meeting: oth June, 1800. 



J. T. Meeson, B.A., President, in tlie chair. 



Faj^cr.—l. " The Eainfall of New Zeahxnd (Part II.)," by 

 J. T. Meeson, B.A. (Transactions, p. 555.) 



Professor Hutton considered Mr. IMceson's paper thorough and ex- 

 haustive ; but thought the map of rainfall might be improved by showing 

 lighter rainfall in the centre of Otago. 



jNIr. Suter (a visitor) believed that there was excessive precipitation in 

 the Ruahine and Tararua districts. The rainfall there reminded him of 

 the rain at the Mount Cook Hermitage. 



Dr. Symes referred to the irregular distribution of the bush on Banks 

 Peninsula and on the Southern Alps. In the latter district the bush is 

 invariably found on the southern slopes of the spurs. 



Mr. Danks thought that this might bo explained by the lay of the 

 strata. He had noticed that in places springs were to bo found only on 

 the southern slopes of the hills ; and it was these sides that were bush- 

 clad, whereas the other side was generallj- bare. 



Professor Hutton pointed out that the northern slopes would naturally 

 be drier, because they were exposed more directly to the sun. 



2. Professor Bickerton gave a solution of Euclid I., 47^ 

 which he considered new. 



