AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.
First Meeting. 29th May, 1882.
E. A. Mackechnie, President, in the chair.
New Members.—E. Anderson, J. Banks, K. Browning, C. E. Bourne, F. E. Compton, J. M. Dargaville, N. Giblin, E. W. Hanmer, A. G. Horton, A. E. Isaacs, Dr. Kenderdine, Dr. Kidd, A. H. Nathan, J. M. Shera, C. B. Stone, W. Thorne, H. J. Wickens.
1. The President delivered the anniversary address.
2. "On some recent Additions to the Flora of New Zealand," by T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S." (Transactions, p. 298.)
3. "Additions to the Geodephaga of New Zealand," by Captain T. Broun, M.E.S.
Second Meeting. 26th June, 1882.
E. A. Mackechnie, President, in the chair.
New Members.—C. Cooper, A. Grey, T. Melville.
1. "New Species of Pselaphidæ," by Capt. T. Broun, M.E.S.
2. "On the Protective Resemblances of the Araneidea in New Zealand," by A. T. Urquhart. (Transactions, p. 174.)
3. "Notes on the Origin of Language," by H. G. Seth Smith.
4. Mr. H. G. Seth Smith exhibited a harmonograph for producing harmonic curves.
ABSTRACT.
The construction of the instrument is such that a finely-pointed glass pen, placed at the junction of two cranks proceeding from the top of two pendulums vibrating at right-angles to one another, traces curves on a sheet of paper. Attention was drawn to the endless variety of curves produced by varying the length of one of the pendulums; and it was pointed out that the curves were then only symmetrical when the ratio of the times of vibration corresponded to a definite interval in music, as a third, fifth, octave, etc. In other cases asymmetrical figures were produced.
Third Meeting. 31st July, 1882.
E. A. Mackechnie, President, in the chair.
New Members.—F. Lawry, J. Street.
1. "New Genera and Species of Heteromera," by Capt. T. Broun, M.E.S.
2. On some recent Additions to the Flora of New Zealand," by T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 298.)
