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Wellington Philosophical Society. 419 
The following gentlemen were elected officers for the ensuing year :— 
President, Dr. Buller, C.M.G., F.L.8.; Vice-Presidents, T. Kirk, F.L.S., 
and C. C. Graham; Council, W. T. L. Travers, F.L.8., J. C. Crawford, 
F.G.8., Dr. Hector, C.M.G., F.L.8., J. Carruthers, C.E., Hon. W. B. D. 
Mantell, J. R. George, and J. Marchant; Secretary and Treasurer, R. 
B. Gore ; Auditor, Arthur Baker. 
The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse said he could congratulate the Society on the 
selection of officers, and he felt no doubt whatever that in the hands of these 
gentlemen the affairs of the Society would be wisely administered. At the 
same time he agreed with some observations which had fallen from the 
President about the attendance of members at the ordinary meetings, and 
he was himself of opinion that some steps ought to be taken to popularise 
the character of the Society, so as to create a more general interest in its 
operations. Before going home he had, at one of the meetings of the 
Society, ventured to suggest an annual soirée or conversazione, in which 
the ladies could take a part, as a means of making the institution popular, 
and thereby extending its usefulness. The idea was not adopted by the 
Council, and he thought there would be no harm in his repeating the sug- 
gestion now. 
Mr. George said that the only reason for not acting on Mr. Waterhouse’s 
suggestion was the want of a suitable room for such an entertainment. 
The fine lecture hall in which the members were now assembled would 
obviate this difficulty. 
Dr. Buller said that in England it had become the practice for each of 
the leading scientific societies, at least once in the year, to hold a popular 
soirée of the kind indicated by Mr. Waterhouse. 
Mr. Travers said that a popular lecture on some scientific topic, in con- 
nection with the proposed entertainment, would be the best means of com- 
bining interest with instruction ; and he referred to the great success which 
had attended Mr. Fitzgerald’s lecture on Art, and several other lectures 
delivered under the auspices of this Society. He added that he would 
quite willing to contribute his share to any future effort of the kind. 
The Hon. Mr. Mantell feared that tea and coffee could not be supplied, 
without putting his own kitchen under requisition, as was done during the 
General Assembly ball in the Museum building; but he was nevertheless 
in favour of Mr. Waterhouse’s proposal, and would suggest that a special 
meeting of Council should be held at an early date, for the purpose of con- 
sidering the matter in detail. 
The President thanked Mr. Waterhouse for bringing the subject forward, 
and declared the Annual Meeting closed. 
