Wellington Philosoj:)Jiical Society. 431 



Dr. Newman, having been eclnea,led in a materialistic school of thought, was as much 

 shocked as could be the most orthodox of believers. He thought Mr. Frankland exalted 

 mind far too much instead of relegating it to its really insignificant position in the uni- 

 verse, and suggested that he could just as easily prove that matter was electricity-stuff 

 as Mr. Frankland had proved that it was mind-stuff. 



Mr. Chapman followed, and very largely agreed with Mr. Frankland' s doctrines. 



Mr. Frankland then replied. 



Dr. W. L. Buller, C.M.G., F.E.S., was chosen to vote in the election of the Board of 

 Governors for the ensuing year, in accordance with clause 7 of " The New Zealand Insti- 

 tute Act." 



Ninth Meeting. 22ncl Noveniher, 1879. 

 Martin Clia]3man, Vice-president, in the chair. 

 New Members. — Dr. Gillon, George Drury. 



1. " On the Cultivation of Beet for the Manufacture of Sugar, etc.," by 

 S. M. Curl, M.D. 



ABSTRACT. 



The author went fully into the subject, and gave the result of extensive 

 experiments made by himself, with the analysis of the roots, showing per 

 centage of sugar. These experiments were carefully compared with the 

 returns from other countries, and proved, in his opinion, that an industry 

 of this kind would be most successful, and return large profits to all who 

 took part in it. 



Mr. Chapman said that when lately in Germany he had made a point of collecting 

 information on the subject of beet cultivation. The profits there were enormous at that 

 time, so much so that the Government had levied a tax of 45 per cent, on the gross pro- 

 duction of sugar. There had, he believed, been a slight decline in this industry, which, 

 however, had risen again. 



Mr. Kirk did not agree with many of the author's statements on the subject, but as 

 there was a rather small attendance, and the subject was a most interesting one, he would 

 move that the discussion be adjourned until next meeting, which was carried. 



2. " On Melicerta ringens and Plumatella rejjens," by A. Hamilton. 

 (Transactions, p. 301). 



Drawings of the animals were exhibited. 



3. "On the Ignorance of the Ancient New Zealander of the Use of 

 Projectile Weapons," by Coleman Phillips. (Transactions, p. 50). 



Mr. J. T. Thomson gave some information bearing on the question in a philological 



sense. 



Tenth Meeting. 10th January, 1880. 

 A. K. Newman, M.B., President, in the chair. 

 New Members. — Eev. W. M'William, J. W. Henley. 



