Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute/Volume 15/Philosophical Institute of Canterbury
PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY.
First Meeting. 9th February, 1882.
Professor F. W. Hutton, Vice-President, in the chair.
This meeting was called by the Council for the purpose of submitting to the Institute a revised code of Laws, these were duly considered and an unanimous resolution passed repealing the existing Laws and adopting those submitted.
Second Meeting. 2nd March, 1882.
R. W. Fereday, Vice-President, in the chair.
New Members.—N. Black, C. J. Mountfort.
1. "Additions to the Molluscan Fauna of New Zealand," by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 131.)
2. "On Earthquake Phenomena," by J. D. Enys.
ABSTRACT.
The author desired to place on record the following facts which occurred after the earthquake of 6th December. The manager of the Grassmere station, about two hours after the shock, or about a quarter to ten, rode past Lake Sarah, situated at the foot of the hill called the Sugar Loaf, about a mile from the Cass Hotel. He was astonished to see, about two to three chains from the shore, two mounds of water being thrown up to about four feet above the surface of the lake; and two hours after on his return past the same place these fountains were still playing. I have known the manager, Mr. H. Carson, for about eighteen years and can fully trust his evidence and think the fact worth recording. I can suggest no explanation of the occurrence, unless it be the escape of gas. I am sorry I have no further account of the length of time which the fountains played.
The earthquake was felt strongly in the Upper Waimakariri Valley and caused considerable damage to stone chimneys both at Craigie Burn and Castle Hill. The hotel at Castle Hill was much damaged; the south-east corner had to be rebuilt, the northern wall was uninjured but the southern one was much shaken. The bottles in the bar, the shelves of which run east and west and face north, were all thrown inwards or to the south.
Third Meeting. 6th April, 1882.
Professor J. von Haast, President, in the chair.
New Member.—E. Meyrick.
1. "Notes on a Skeleton of Megaptera lalandii," by Professor J. von Haast. (Transactions, p. 214.)
2. Note on the Silt Deposit at Lyttelton," by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 411.)
3. "Additions to the Isopodan Faiwa of New Zealand," by C. Chilton, M.A. (Transactions, p. 145.)
Fourth Meeting. 4th May, 1882.
Professor F. W. Hutton, Vice-President, in the chair.
1. The following motion was passed at this meeting:—"That this Society desires to place on record its high appreciation of the great services that have been rendered to science by the late Dr. Charles Darwin and its deep sense of the loss that science has sustained through his death."
2. "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera," by E. Meyrick, B.A. (Transactions, p. 3.)
3. "Notes on some of the Diatomaceous Deposits of New Zealand," by J. Inglis. (Transactions, p. 340.)
Fifth Meeting. 1st June, 1882.
W. M. Maskell, Honorary Treasurer, in the chair.
"On the New Zealand Siphonariidæ," by Prof. F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 141.)
Sixth Meeting. 6th July, 1882.
Prof. F. W. Hutton, Vice-President, in the chair.
New Member—Stanley Edwards.
"On some Points of Difference between the English Crayfish (Astacus fluviatilis) and a New Zealand one (Paranephrops setosus)," by C. Chilton, M.A. (Transactions, p. 150.)
Seventh Meeting. 3rd August, 1882.
R. W. Fereday, Vice-President, in the chair.
1. "Notes on some Branchiate Gastropoda," by Prof. F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 118.)
2. Prof. F. W. Hutton exhibited specimens from the Weka Pass Rock Paintings, by means of the microscope, for the purpose of showing the presence of stalagmite.
Eighth Meeting. 7th September, 1882.
Professor J. von Haast, President, in the chair.
New Members.—P. Westenra, A. Durand, A. Appleby.
1. "Further Additions to our Knowledge of the New Zealand Crustacea," by C. Chilton, M.A. (Transactions, p. 69.)
2. "Notes on the Structure of Struthiolaria papulosa, by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 117.)
3. "Descriptions of some new Tertiary Shells from Wanganui," by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 410.)
4. "Descriptions of New Zealand Micro-Lepidoptera," by E. Meyrick, B.A. (Transactions, p. 33.)
Ninth Meeting. 5th October, 1882.
Professor J. von Haast, President, in the chair.
New Member.—Dr. W. H. Gaze.
1. "Notes on and a new Species of Subterranean Crustacea," by C. Chilton, M.A. (Transactions, p. 87.)
2. "On the New Zealand Desmidieæ, Additions to Catalogue and Notes on various Species," by W. M. Maskell. (Transactions, p. 237.)
3. "Further Notes on the Rock Shelter of Weka Pass," by Professor J. von Haast.
Tenth Meeting. 19th October, 1882.
Professor J. von Haast, President, in the chair.
New Member.—W. Watt.
1. According to notice, the discussion on Professor J. von Haast's paper on the Rock Shelter at Weka Pass was resumed, and was taken part in by Professors J. von Haast, Hutton, Haslam, and Cook, and Messrs. Fereday, Inglis, and Maskell.
2. "Descriptions of new Land Shells," by Professor F. W. Hutton. (Transactions, p. 134.)
Annual Meeting. 2nd November, 1882.
Professor J. von Haast, President, in the chair.
ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL REPORT.
One special and nine ordinary meetings have been held, at which 18 papers have been read contributed by seven authors, viz.,—13 on Zoology, 2 on Geology, 2 on Botany, and 1 of a miscellaneous character.
Nine new members have been added to the list during the year, and 13 have withdrawn, making the number at present on the books 164.
The Council is pleased to state that valuable additions have been made to the library during the year. The donations comprise 18 volumes and about 220 pamphlets.
The additions made to the library by purchase number 128 volumes, including a valuable and complete series of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History, and also Emelin's Handbook of Chemistry.
The Council deemed it advisable in the early part of the session, to appoint a committee to revise the Rules of the Institute, and the changes were adopted at a special meeting of the Institute held 9th February, 1882.
The Council has corresponded with the other affiliated societies of the New Zealand Institute, asking if they would co-operate in suggesting to the Board of Governors the desirability of publishing the Transactions either quarterly or half-yearly. The majority of replies were favourable, but as the societies were not unanimous, the Council did not consider it advisable to proceed with the matter.
The report of the Microscopical Section stated that meetings had been held twice a month during the session, and that several of the members were actively engaged in original work.
The Hon. W. Rolleston has been chosen by the Council to vote at the election of the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute.
The Council had nominated for election an honorary member of the New Zealand Institute.
The balance-sheet shows total receipts for the year £197 19s. 2d.; expenditure £168 5s. 11d.; and balance £29 13s. 3d. Among the items of expenditure are £2 5s. to the Arundel Society, and £121 10s. 11d. for books.
Election of Officers for 1883:—President—Professor F. W. Hutton; Vice-Presidents—R. W. Fereday, E. Dobson; Treasurer, W. M. Maskell; Secretary—Geo. Gray; Council—Professor J. von Haast, Dr. Symes, C. Chilton, T. Crook, J. Inglis, T. S. Lambert.
The retiring President, Professor J. von Haast, delivered an address on the Early History of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute.