392 Proceedings. 
were on record, but it would be very interesting if Mr. Marten could place the 
meeting in possession of some explanation as to the cause of this peculiarity 
in the climate of New Zealand. Possibly the difference in the vegetation of 
the two islands might in some measure account for the different readings. 
Mr. Marten considered the excess in the case of the South Island too great 
to be accounted for in this way. 
Mr. Gore said he was sorry Dr. Hector was absent, as he was sure he 
would have a great deal to say on the subject of radiation. For his own part, 
he had long been aware of the facts stated in Mr. Marten's paper ; indeed, 
they were known to everyone who had consulted the printed meteorological 
returns. It had always been a matter of surprise to him to find the solar 
radiation so much higher at some stations than at others, and especially strange 
that it should be higher in Southland than at most of the other places in New 
Zealand, and even greatly in excess of that recorded at Melbourne. He had 
hoped that Mr. Marten's paper would throw some light on the subject, and he 
was rather disappointed at not hearing some good reason assigned for such an 
excess of the solar radiation in Southland. He hoped that Mr. Marten would 
yet explain the matter, for until some cause could be set forth he was inclined 
to distrust such excessive readings of the black bulb thermometer. 
The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, before the meeting concluded, suggested that 
the Council of the Society should endeavour to popularize science by holding 
a conversazione periodically, at which short papers upon what he might call 
popular subjects would be read, and at which all classes, particularly the 
working classes, might be instructed and entertained by simple illustrations of 
scientific subjects, varied by the introduction of musical selections. 
Mr. Travers remarked that as far as his experience went science was not 
at all popular in Wellington, and he did not think the course proposed by Mr, 
Waterhouse would make it so. Something of the kind suggested had already 
been attempted and had failed. 
