MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 33 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 
Sydney, 7th November, 1883.—Mr. H. Russell in the chair. 
New Member.—Dr. W. S. Byrne. 
Paper.—(1.) “Irrigation in Upper India,” by H. G. M‘Kin- 
ney, M.E. 
The author describes the modes and results of irrigation as 
carried on in Bengal, the North-West Provinces, and the Punjab, 
with the object of drawing attention to the importance of the 
subject to the Australian Colonies. 
Sydney, 14th November.—Hon. J. Smith, C.M.G., president, 
in the chair. 
Paper.—(1.) ‘‘ Tanks and Wells of New South Wales, Water 
Supply, and Irrigation,” by A. Pepys Wood. 
Sydney, 5th December, 1883.—Prof. Smith, C.M.G., president, 
in the chair. 
New Members—Messrs. W. H. Lane, J. Ridley, M.D., and 
W. Shellshear. 
Papers—(1) ‘‘ Additions to the census of the genera of plants 
hitherto known as indigenous to Australia,’ by Baron F. von 
Mueller. ; 
Professor Liversidge exhibited a number of chalk flints, which 
had been brought by Dr. Guppy, of H.M.S. Lark, from the Solo- 
mon Islands. Some years ago Mr. Brown, the Wesleyan Mis- 
sionary, had brought trom New Britain a soft white limestone, 
which was quite undistinguishable from chalk, not only physically 
but chemically. It resembles the grey rather than the white chalk 
of England. These flints, in connection with the chalk, were very 
interesting. Some of them had apparently been chipped into im- 
plements. He also showed some fruits which had been taken from 
the crops of pigeons shot by Lieutenants Heming and Leefer on a 
small island off the south coast of St. Christoval. 
The president announced that that meeting concluded the 
business of the year. It was the intention of the Council to hold 
a conversazione in the month of May. Two years had now been 
permitted to pass without the annual gathering, but it was deter- 
mined not to allow this year to pass without it. 
mreLOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY. 
ANNUAL MEETING. 
Christchurch, 1st November, 1883.—Prof. Hutton, president, 
in the chair. . 
The Hon. Secretary read the annual report, of which the fol- 
lowing is an abstract :— 
“During the year (ending 31st October, 1883) nine ordinary 
meetings have been held, at which 30 papers have been read, viz., 
I5 on zoology, 5 on botany, 1 on chemistry, 1 on geology, and 8 
on miscellaneous subjects. 
‘“‘ During the year the Council has made a somewhat new de- 
parture in endeavouring to secure for each meeting a paper which, 
while making no pretensions to be an original contribution to 
