HAWKE'S BAY PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3817, 9 October 1883, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

This Society held their Ordinary Meeting last night. Wo regret to say thero Avero not so many Members presont as thero ought to bo, especially as this was (supposed to bo) the fust meeting for this year; but as tho Juno meeting was not then held, oAving to the absence of the Honorary Secretary, it is decided to have another Meeting in November to make up for that omission, —AA'hen we hope to see a much better attendance. One very pleasing feature however we wore glad to notice, —all present seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves throughout the Avholo Meeting. In the absence of tho President the Bishop of AVaiapu, the Vice-President Dr. Spencer occupied the Chair. Tho Hon. Secretary Mr Colenso read a rather long but highly interesting Lecture, lately delivered before the University of Cambridge by Professor Huxley, on Evolution —or the progressive appearance of animals on this globe. It Avas tho fairest and most reasonable discourse on that highly important and deep subject avc lun'o yet heard, and it Avas listened to from beginning to end Avith breathless attention. It is contained in the June number of "Nature," and had tbe advantage of having been revised by tbe Professor himself. It appears, that Mr Colenso had only a foAV days before borrowed that Serial from Dr Spencer; and finding such a really excellent and neAv and every Avay suitable scientific article therein, he dropped AA'hat ho had been preparing for tho meeting in order to take up this. - The better to illustrate it, Mr Colenso drew a feAV diagrams on the black-board of the extinct species of shells referred to in the lecture

Mr Hamilton, Dr Spencer, and, also- 1 in conclusion, Mr Colenso, mado somo further elucidatory and appropriate remarks upon somo of tho matters mentioned in tho lecture, and its large and weighty-subject.' A A'otc of thanks to Mr Colenso Avas proposed by Dr Spencer and seconded by Holder and carried unanimously.

- The tables were crowded Avith exhibits both now and old—Zoological, Botanical, Geological and Artificial; many of them AA'crc highly-intercstingand curious, not to say A-aluable. It Avould take up a full column of our paper merely to mention them' severally. These Avere mainly suppUed by Mr Balfour of Glenrossand by Mr Hamilton. AIL present seemed greatly pleased in examining them—or, rather, in looking over a feAV of them, as time would not permit of a long or attentive examination ; but, as most of them -will bo deposited in the museum of the Society, such can bo profitably done'hereafter.

, Mr' Colenso also read from the same monthly number of " Nature " tho Editor's favourable remarks on thoso specimen pages of the N.Z. Lexicon, written by him (Mr Coleiiso) of which Aye formerly had hoard so much,—specimens of the same having reached London and Gcrmaily ; and having done so, he placed two'copies of''them, printed by ihe N.Z.. Government with other Parliamentary Papers respecting that work, on the table, for the Library of the Society. At tbe end, notice was given that at tho next (and last) meeting in November, several novelties in N.Z. Plants (including Ferns) and Insects Avould be shoAvn—together with a descriptive paper upon them by tho Hon. Secretary, Avhen Member.-, and their friends' aro requested to attend.

Tho usual'vote of thanks to tho Chairman concluded, the meeting, '• "