Wellington Philosophical Society. 541 



ABSTBACT. 



The author suggests the use of Barium Chloride, mixed with four times its weight of 

 meal, as a poisonoits agent. Also the introduction of the peculiar scab insect Sarcoptes 

 cati, which attacks cats, and is fatal to rabbits, but does not affect other animals. 



10. " Oil Solar Heat," by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. 



ABSTRACT. 



This was a short paper in which the author draws attention, and to some extent 

 accepts, the views put forward by Mr. W. P. Wilson in the "Victorian Review" of 

 January 1st, 1881. 



Annual Meeting. 11th February, 1882. 

 Dr. Hector, President, in the Chair. 

 Neiv Members — J. S. Eeid, Chas. Monaghan. 



Abstkact of Report fob 1881. — Seven meetings, the same as in the previous year, 

 have been held since last annual meeting in February, 1881, on the following dates : 

 12th February, 6th and 20th August, 3rd and 17th September, 22nd October, 1881, and 

 21st January, 1882 ; the average attendance being greater than in the previous year. 

 Thirty-five papers were read, five in excess of last year, on the following subjects : — 

 Geology, 9 ; Zoology, 9 ; Botany, 7 ; Chemistry, 4 ; Miscellaneous, 6. 



Sixteen additional members had been elected during the year, making a total at the 

 present time of 303 members on the roll. Thirty volumes, besides many periodicals 

 and pamphlets, had been added to the library, and a large number of the latter had been 

 recently bound. From the statement of receipts and expenditure submitted by the Trea- 

 surer, it appeared that there was a credit balance of £75 15s. 8d. 



The report and balance-sheet were adopted. 



Election of Officers for 1882. — President — W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S.; 

 Vice-Presidents — Hon. G. R. Johnson, Dr. Buller, O.M.G., F.R.S. ; Council — 

 Dr. Newman, J. P. Maxwell, M.I.C.E., R. Govett, M. Chapman, Dr. Hector, 

 S. H. Cox, T. King; Secretary and Treasurer — E. B. Gore; Auditor — Oliver 

 Wakefield ; Librarian — T. W. Kirk. 



Dr. Hector, the retiring President, then delivered an address. 



Abstract. 



He thought, from the report just read, that the Society might be congratulated upon 

 the work done during the past year. It had not been brilliant work, and they had missed 

 the lectures of previous years on special subjects interesting and instructive. This had 

 been the case chiefly because the hall had been required for other purposes, and their 

 meetings could not be held regularly. He trusted before next year that one of the great 

 drawbacks to making these lectures attractive would be removed, and that the lime-light 

 apparatus would be completed, so that it would be possible to make illustrations visible to 

 all present. Great improvements had been effected in the Library arrangements, and Mr. 

 Kirk had been appointed Librarian, and would be responsible for the books of the Society. 

 They had now a really very excellent library of 5,000 volumes, and the catalogue was 

 available in manuscript for the use of members. In connection with the Museum, it had 

 always seemed to him to be a great drawback that there had not been more scope given 

 lor rendering the large collection and library more available for the purposes of direct 



