MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 593. 
Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. The Council is 
pleased to be able to report that the finances of the Institute are in a 
very satisfactory condition. The balance-sheet, which will be submitted 
to you by the Honorary Treasurer, shows total receipts, including 
eredit balance of £13 6s. 7d., to be £204 4s. 2d.; total expenditure, 
£164 2s, 8d., leaving a credit balance of £40 1s. 6d. The reserve fund, 
consisting of the subscriptions of life members, is now £56 9s. 7d.” 
The following gentlemen were elected office-bearers for the ensuing 
year :—President, Mr. A. D. Dobson; vice-Presidents, Dr. Symes and 
Mr. G. Hogben; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. H. R. Webb; Hon. Secretary, Mr 
C. Chilton; Auditor, Mr. C. R. Blakiston; Council, Messrs. R. W. 
Fereday, T. Crook, C. E. Bevan-Brown, 8S. Hurst Seager, Professors F. 
W. Hutton and Haslam. 
The retiring President, Dr. Symes, delivered an address on ‘“ The 
vole of Phosphorus in Nature,” dwelling particularly upon its action 
upon vegetation, and pointing out how the exhaustion of phosphorus 
from the soil by crops or stock can be restored by artificial means. 
AUCKLAND INSTITUTE. 
Auckland, Sept. 21st, 1885.—Mr. J. A. Pond, President, in the 
chair. 
New Members.—Capt. Clayton, Messrs. E. Bell, G. Cozens, and 
W. M. Hay. 
Papers.—(1) ‘‘ On New Zealand Pufiins.” 
(2) “On a new variety of the Tuatara,” both by Mr. A. Reischek. 
(3) “On the influence of the means of transit on the social 
condition of the people,” by Mr. 8. Vaile. 
Auckland, Oct. 19th, 1885.—Mr. J. A. Pond, President, in the 
chair. 
New Member.—Mr. L. Cussen. 
Papers.—(1) ‘‘ New Species of Spiders,” by Mr. A. T.. Urquhart. 
(2) “On the Minerals of Cape Colville Peninsula,” by Mr. J. A. 
Pond. ‘The paper referred to the deposits of gold and silver upon the 
peninsula. The latter metal in the form of ruby silver had been found 
in specimen stone to the extent of 200 to 300oz.‘per ton, but it was 
invariably lost in the crushing, as it did not readily amalgamate with 
mercury. Silver also existed as a telluride. This combination was 
first found in the Moa claims at Te Aroha, but it had since been 
discovered at Karangahake and Waihi, and would in all probability be 
found to occur at Waitekauri. The author had also obtained it in the 
Prince Imperial mine at the Thames. Copper Pyrites occurred on 
Cape Colville Peninsula, notably in the Manakau mine and in the Little 
Agnes mine at Tararu, while Lead was also present in the form of 
Galena. At Coromandel in the Driving Creek there was to be seen a 
narrow vein containing a clean sample of Galena, which was, however, 
irregular in size and quantity. In other places in the district this ore 
was also to be found in some quantity, but intermixed with other 
