434 Proceedings. 



The Secretary laid on the table three copies of the Ti-i-dailj Weather Map 

 and the Tri-daily Bulletin published by the War Department of the United 

 States, and sent by the Chief Signal Master, to whom a vote of thanks was 

 passed for his courtesy. 



The Secretary reported that the Book Committee had sent an order for 

 additional books to the value of about £30, and for apparatus, to the value of 

 about .£20, to complete the spectroscope. 



Resolved — That in future the Institute year end on 31st December, and 

 that the annual meeting be held at the commencement of each j^ear, instead of 

 in July. 



1. " On the Variation of the Declination of the Magnetic Needle in the 

 Southern Portion of the Middle Island, and Remarks on the Desirability of 

 Establishing Magnetic Observatories in New Zealand," by A. H. Ross. 

 {Transactiois, p. 3'.) 



Resolved — That the suggestions at the end of Mr. Ross' paper be sent to 

 the Manager of the New Zealand Institute. 



2. "A Visit to Sandy mount District, Otago Peninsula, and a brief 

 Description of some of its more prominent naturtil Features," by Peter 

 Thomson. 



(abstract.) 



" The district comprises some of the best land on the Otago Peninsula, as 

 well as some of the very worst. The coast line is a sei'ies of high, irregular 

 cliffs rising to 400 or 500 feet above the sea, and forming here and there small 

 bays and promontories, against which, the water being deep close in, there is 

 always a heavy surf beating, even in fine weather. The district contains some 

 magnificent scenery and some natural wonders of a very interesting nature." 

 The author first visited the lime works, where, he says, " the lime is of 

 excellent quality, the rock cropping out on the side of a low hill, and bearing 

 marks of extensive and long-continued water action, being worn into curious 

 deep holes now filled with clay." He then went along the side of a steep hill, 

 through a heavy rock cutting of hard bluestone, to Sandfly Bay. The rocks 

 there are very much broken and full of cavities, and the heavy waves dashed 

 with prodigious force upon them. " The phenomenon known as the ' water- 

 rocket' was frequent. Small masses of water are thrown up with great vigour, 

 with tails of spray, just as if fired from a gun, often at right angles to the 

 way the wave is moving. This is caused by the air being compressed in the 

 hollows of the x-ocks hj the advancing watei-, and, expanding rapidly when the 

 pressure ceases in the hole, is blown through the wave into the air." At one 

 end of the bay several stacks of rocks, called " Gull Rocks," stand at a short 

 distance from shore, and are much frequented by sea birds. A bank of loose. 



