392 Proceedings. 



were on record, but it would be very interesting if Mr. Marten could place tlie 

 meeting in possession of some explanation as to the cause of this peculiarity 

 in the climate of New Zealand. Possibly the difference in the vegetation of 

 the two islands might in some measure account for the different readings. 



Mr. Marten considered the excess in the case of the South Island too great 

 to be accounted for in this way, 



Mr. Gore said he was sorry Dr. Hector was absent, as he was sure he 

 would have a great deal to say on the subject of radiation. For his own part, 

 he had long been aware of the facts stated in Mr. Marten's paper ; indeed, 

 they were known to everyone who had consulted the printed meteorological 

 returns. It had always been a matter of surprise to him to find the solar 

 radiation so much higher at some stations than at others, and especially strange 

 that it should be higher in Southland than at most of the other places in New 

 Zealand, and even greatly in excess of that recorded at Melbourne. He had 

 hoped that Mr. Marten's paper would throw some light on the subject, and he 

 was rather disappointed at not hearing some good reason assigned for such an 

 excess of the solar radiation in Southland. He hoped that Mr. Marten would 

 yet explain the matter, for until some cause could be set forth he was inclined 

 to distrust such excessive readings of the black bulb thermometer. 



The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, before the meeting concluded, suggested that 

 the Council of the Society should endeavour to popularize science by holding 

 a conversazione periodically, at which short papers upon what he might call 

 popular subjects would be read, and at which all classes, particularly the 

 working classes, might be instructed and entertained by simple illustrations of 

 scientific subjects, varied by the introduction of musical selections. 



Mr. Ti-avers remarked that as far as his experience went science was not 

 at all popular in Wellington, and he did not think the course proposed by Mr. 

 Waterhouse would make it so. Something of the kind suggested had already 

 been attempted and had failed. 



