Otago htsfitntr. 437 



OTAGO INSTITUTE. 



First Meeting : lJ,fh May, 1912. 



The President, Di-. W. B. Benham, F.R.S., in the chair. 



New Members. — Professor J. K. H. Inglis, M.A., D.Sc, and Messrs. 

 G. H. Uttley, M.A., M.Sc., R. T. Stewart, and C. F. McDonald. 



Papers. — 1. "The Place-name Taitapu," by Mr. N. L. Buchanan. 

 A short paper protesting against the application of the name " Taitapu " to 

 the inferior Takaka coalfield. 



2. " How to combat the Grass-grub," by Mr. A. Bathgate. 



The author advocated the introduction into New Zealand of the shrew and 

 the toad, and the protection and further importation of the hedgehog. 



3. "Volcanic Lavas of Otago North Head," by Dr. P. Marshall. 



A summary of the results of the author's investigations into the chemical com- 

 position of the twenty-four distinct lava-flows found in the above locality. 



Second Meeting : jth June, 1912. 



The President, Dr. W. B. Benham, F.R.S., in the chair. 



New Member.— m-. E. P. W. Ford- 



Addresa. — TTie President delivered his presidential address, entitled 

 " Some London Museums." 



The address was illustrated with a large number of lantern-slides, and dealt 

 more particularly with the wonderfully complete historical and ethnographical 

 collections of the Guildhall, and the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Wallace 

 Collection at Hertford House. 



Third Meeting : 2nd Jidi/. 1912. 

 The Piesident, Dr. W. B. Benliani, F.R.S., in the chair. 

 New Member. — Mr. P. J. Keligher. 



AddrtK!^. — ".New Zealand Wild Flowers," by Mr. D. L. Poppelwell. 



After some remarks on the magnitude and distribution of New Zealand flora, 

 the lecturer proceeded to show a very large number of exceptionally fine slides 

 illustrating the more beautiful and interesting native plants and flowers, and con- 

 cluded with a strong appeal to the audience to use their influence for the preserva 

 tion and protection of the native flora. 



