﻿PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY. 



First Meetustg. 1st If arch, 1871. 

 Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S., President, in the cliair. 



N^ew tnemhei's. — Mr. Robison, Captain Clogstoun. 



The balance-sheet for the past year was read and adopted. It showed that 

 the total receipts to 29th October, 1870, were £207 19s. 6d., and the 

 expenditure for the year £190 16s. 3d., leaving a balance in hand of £17 3s. 3d. 



Some discussion took place in reference to a collection of grasses laid on 

 the table by Mr. Armstrong, and it was decided "That the President, Mr. 

 Armstrong, and Mr. Wilkie, the chairman of the Grass Committee, should 

 form a committee to take into consideration the best mode of displaying them 

 in the Museum for the instruction of the public, to report at the next general 

 meeting." 



Several jiresentations of works to the Society were laid on the table. 



Dr. Powell moved that the words " which members shall be thereupon 

 considered elected," shall be added at the conclusion of Rule XII, as it now 

 stands. 



Mr. Davie seconded the motion. 



After much discussion it was pointed out that by Rule XLII no alteration 

 of any existing law shall be made, except at the annual meeting in November, 

 or at a special general meeting summoned for that purpose. It was finally 

 decided, on the motion of Dr. Turnbull, seconded by Mr. George Hall, " that 

 the Council be requested to take into consideration the propriety of amending 

 Rule XII." 



The President then read his inaugural address entitled, " On Moas and 

 Moa Hunters." (See Transactions, p. QQ.) At the conclusion of the address 

 discussion ensued. 



Mr. Davie was of opinion that the author had not by any means clearly 

 established that the Moa-hunters were a distinct race from the Maoris. He 

 thought that the fact of the extreme rarity of implements betraying any degree 

 of finish in the kitchen-middens of the Moa-hunters might be accounted for by 

 the abundance of material at hand, the implements being roughly chipped, 

 and thrown aside when done with ; whereas those of a rarer material, on 



