Otago Institute. 441 
which the magnitude of the excursion of the vibrating particle will be so 
ereat as of necessity to alter the wave length, if it be further increased ? 
We need to be a great deal more competent to answer such questions as 
these before we can assure ourselves that any of our observations yield us 
the data, or any of our calculations form the logical processes, which will 
lead us to a definition of the temperature of the sun. 
1. “ On the cause of the former great Extension of the Glaciers in New 
Zealand,” by Captain F. W. Hutton. (See Transactions, page 883.) 
Sreconp Mertinc. 25th May, 1875. 
J. T. Thomson, Vice-President, in the chair. 
New Members.—C. W. Purnell, J. A. M‘Arthur, E. R. Ussher. 
1. “On New Zealand Surveys,” by J. S. Connell. (See Appendix, page 
27.) 
Tarp Mzrtine. 18th July, 1875. 
J. §. Webb, President, in the chair. 
New Members.—J. E. Denniston, A. Burt, R. A. Lawson, A. Armstrong. 
1. “On the Building Materials of Otago—Part I.—Building Stones,” by 
W. N. Blair, C.E. (See Transactions, page 123.) 
Fourtu Meetine. 27th July, 1875. 
J. 8. Webb, President, in the chair. 
New Members.—T. Stevenson, Rev. Lindsay Mackie. 
1. “On the Glacial Epoch and its Cause,” by L. O. Beal. 
Firtn Meetinc. 10th Awyust, 1875. 
J. §. Webb, President, in the chair. 
New Members.—J. Davidson, J. E. H. Harris, A. Wilson. 
The President announced that the Secretaries of the Academy of 
Sciences of France had presented to the Institute some valuable publications 
on the subject of the Transit of Venus. 
A vote of thanks was carried to the donors of these publications. 
1. “On the Longitude of Wellington, in reply to Remarks by Dr. 
Heetor,”’* by J. T. Thomson. 
Mr. R. Gillies said he thought that Mr. Thomson had established his 
point, provided his figures were correct. Dr. Hector had assumed that he 
had got his longitude by chronometric observations by simply accepting 
Sydney and Melbourne observations as his basis, forgetting that he was 
building a chronometric on a previous local observation. He regretted that 
Dr. Hector should have gone so much out of his way to throw a stone at 
* See “ Proceedings N.Z. Inst.,” Vol. VIL, page 502. - 
