Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. 87 



Annual Mkktino : ?//- /Jrcf.mber, 1910. 

 Present : Mr. H. M. Lai)ifi, President, in tlie eliair, ami iarix otliers. 

 Neiv Member. — Mr. J. D. Hall. 



Annibal Report. — The annual lejiort as suhmittril Ijy the Council 

 was unanimously adopted. 



Abstract. 



The conditi(jn of the Institute continues to be still most satisfactoiy Ijoth as 

 regards the nuniher of rtiemhers and the active interest displayed in those special 

 branches of scientific inquiry which constitute its aim and object. The special lines 

 of research outlined in last year's report have been developed, and some have already 

 given good results. These lines of inquiry are as follows : Obseivations on the 

 .V)thur's Pass Tunnel, a survey of the Canterbury lakes, and an examination of the 

 Christchurch artesian system. This is <[u\U- apart fioni a i(msiderabl(? amount of 

 original work which has been carried on by the individual members of the Institutr-. 



.■\rthiir'.i J'a-'< Tutuwt. — The temp(M'atui'e-oV>servatio'ns have been legularly takc-n 

 throughout the year at every 10 chains, and specimens collected at frequent in- 

 tervals in order to have a permanent lecord of the rocks encountered. The lie of 

 the beds, faults, and other features have been observed throughout the 86 chains 

 that the bore has penetrated at the Otira end of the tunnel. Little work has been 

 done at the Bealey end. The general results are somewhat inconclu.sive in that 

 there has been no appreciable rise in temperatuie, a result which is n(j doubt due to 

 the rapid percolation of water through the beds ; and, since the Tunnel follows the 

 general strike, little variation is to be met with in the character of the rocks i n- 

 countered. The thanks of the Institute are due to Messrs. .John .McLean and Sons, 

 the contractors, for the facilities afforded for the examination of the Tunnel, and 

 to Mr. John Manson, of the Public Works Department, f(jr the \aluable services he 

 has rendered in taking temperatures and collecting speciuu-ns when memltei's of tin- 

 Institute were unable to visit Otiia. 



Lakfii (joiiiiii'itti'.e.. — As mentioned in the repoit last year, it was originally 

 intended to commence investigatiims on Lake Coleridge, and, as a preliminary step. 

 a representative of the committee visited the lake. It was decided latei' to examine 

 first a lake of smaller area, and Lake Sarah, on the West Coast lioad, was therefore 

 chosen. Early in the year three members spent a lew days in the locality, and 

 did some useful preliminary work, making collections and surveying the lake." 

 On the completion of the present .section of the Midland Pailway, facilities for 

 visiting the lake will be greatly increased, when it is hoped that the investigati(»ns 

 may be continued. 



Arffsian I n ri'.<tiffatioii. — Owing U> pressure of other rmUteis the Committefci 

 foi' the Investigation of the Artesian System of Christchurch and Neighbourhood 

 has been unable to meet and woik as a general comiuittee ; investigations have, 

 however, been carried out by individual memViers, and a pape)- dealing with further 

 experiments on the effect of artesian water on fish has already been presented at the 

 Institute by Dr. Farr and Mr. D. B. Macleod. and a comprehensive paper dealing 

 v/ith the depths of the artesians in different districts and the strata through which 

 they pass will be Ijrought forv/ard by Mr. P. Speight at the annual meeting. 



AnimalH Frotntlon Art. — This question has V^een fully considered by a sul)- 

 committee of the Council, and al.so by the Council itself working in conjunction 

 with the local acclimatization societ\' and the Otago Institute, and there is .sonu- 

 satisfaction in noting that their combined efforts were successful in securing a 

 modification of the present Act so as tf) give more adequate protection to our 

 native fauna. A (government BiH lecenlly introduced into I'arliament contained 

 a clause which declared all native l)irds to l)e protected, and imposed a substantial 

 penalty for molesting them. The Hon. D. Buddcj, Ministei- of Internal Affairs, 

 has kindly informed the Council that this clause has been finally adopted, and it 

 is hoped that it will check the destiuction which went ')n formerly in spite of the 

 regulations. The hearty thanks of the Institute are specially due to ^Ir. H. ('•. 

 Ell, M.P., and to Colonel Heaton Pihodes, M.P.. for their cordial and ready 

 assistance in the matter. 



Aurl-Jand /■■'Ifiiul^. — The Council notes with much pleasure the decision of the 

 Government to make Adams Island, the large island to the south of Carnlev 

 Harbour, a sanctuary for the preservation of the unique native fauna and flora of our 

 subantarctic islands. It is to be hoped that arrangements will ahso be made for 



