430 



Museum, and certain public Libraries, and the superintendence of the Botanic Garden, 

 etc. , were focussed under the aiispices of this Institute, either by association or otherwise. 

 Whatever good the present generally desultory, and often antagonistic efforts, may have 

 produced, a more perfect organisation, oneness of direction, and union of forces, would 

 accomplish vastly more ; would add greatly to the usefulness and interest of each and all 

 of the sections, which collectively would then constitute the Otago Institute ; and would 

 lead to much more economical working, much greater results, and build up such an 

 institution as would prove of great worth, both to the province and the colony. 



Mr. Webb with the view of supporting remarks contained in the address by 

 Mr. Eccles regarding the products of the colony, mentioned that native flax was most 

 inadequately represented in the Otago Museum. There were a number of specimens, but 

 they were not described, nor was there anything to instruct people as to the modes of 

 preparation, or regarding the different characters of flax. The question they had to 

 consider was not what could be done here, but comparisons should also be instituted with 

 what could be accomplished elsewhere. 



Mr. Robert Gillies desired to make a few remarks respecting the Colonial Laboratory. 

 It was, he believed, not generally known that any specimens, not only of minerals, but 

 also of soils, if sent there, were analysed free of charge. When travelling in the province 

 the question had been asked what, if any, charge was made, for analyses ; and there- 

 fore it was desirable that the fact he had mentioned should be widely ventilated. 

 Farmers, for instance, could get specimens of their soils analysed. Referring to some 

 remarks made by the Chairman as to an amalgamation of societies, he might mention that 

 the President of the Acclimatisation Society, Mr. W. D. Murison, dealt with the same 

 subject in an address which he delivered at a recent meeting of the Acclimatisation Society. 

 Under the circumstances, therefore, he thought there would be no great difficulty in 

 bringing about an amalgamation of the Acclimatisation and other societies with this branch 

 of the New Zealand Institute, and that steps should be taken in that direction. 



Mr. Robert Gillies read a paper on "Te Puia, a hot spring near the Wangape Lake, 

 in the Waikato District." (See ante, p. 169.) 



Mr. Webb, referring to the remark of Mr. Gillies that "Te Puia" served as a barometer 

 to the natives of the neighbourhood, explained the meteorological principles which 

 accounted for this fact. 



Mr. Henry Skey asked Mr. Gillies as to the sulphurous odours felt on approaching 

 the spring. The water, as analysed (see "Trans. N. Z. Inst.," Vol. i, p. 71) showed no 

 trace of sulphur. 



Mr. Gillies said there could be no doubt as to the character of the exhalations met 

 with in the bush on approaching the spring, and suggested that they might arise from 

 sources not directly connected with the spring. 



With regard to the name "Te Puia," Mr. J. N. Watt, on being appealed to as a 

 Maori scholar, expressed his belief that it was simply the ordinary native name for any 

 hot spring. 



In consequence of the lateness of the hour, the reading of a paper "On the Natural 

 History Department of the Otago Museum," being the first of a series by Mr. J. S. Webb, 

 was deferred. In place of it 



Mr. Webb read a paper " On the Mechanical Principles involved in the Sailing 

 Flight of the Albatros, " being a criticism upon Captain Hutton's papers on the same 

 subject published in the "Trans. N. Z. Institute," Vol. i., p. 58, and the "Philosophical 

 Magazine" for August, 1869. (See ante, p. 233.) 



It was resolved that in future the meetings of the Institute should be fixed for the 

 second Tuesday in the months of September, November, January, March, and May. 



