HAWKE'S BAY PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3914, 5 February 1884, Page 2

HAWKE'S BAY PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

The members of the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute hbld their annual general meeting yesterday afternoon,' at which there was a good attendance. Amongst those present wo noticed the Bishop of Waiapu, who, as Presideut of tho Society, occupied the chair, Dr. Spencer, Dr. de Lisle, Mr W. Colenso, the hou. secretary and treasurer, and Messrs Gollau, Newton, Weber. Kuowles, CaraeH, Rearden, Sturm, Hill, Rainbow, Holder, May, and Price. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. In reference to a question submitted by the p/rorio.us meeting to the, Council ip relation to the 'enforcement of the payment of subscriptions in arroai*,, a resolution of the Council was read whioh was to the effect that no more stringent rule than that passed in 1881 was cteemed necessary.

The statement of accounts was read, which showed that the expenditure for tho past year amounted to £IG3 Ss Bd., and that, with tho fixed'deposit in the bank, and on the payment of subscriptions then duo, the funds of tho society would amount to £384 Gs 7d. The annual report was next read, which gave an account of the transactions of the Institute for the past year, and showed that the society was in a satisfactory condition as regards membership. The report and balance-sheet wero adopted and ordered to bo printed. A by-law was amended by which two months' grace was given for the payment of the first subscription by a new member ; and a new rule was adopted giving power to the Society to publish the papers read at its meetings. , A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the retiring officers. A letter was road trom Mr W. Colenso, addressed to tho president, announcing his intention to retire from the honorary offices of secretary and treasurer, held by him since 1874. The letter gavo rise to many expressions of regret from the members present, and Mr Colenso was several times begged to withdraw it. In explanation of the course ho had taken Mr Colenso read tho correspondence that had passed between himself and Dr" Hector, which apparently showed that the Society suffered through tho neglect of the latter, due. it was thought, to the absence of any cordial feeling between the two gentlemen. Mr Colenso further explained that his .time was fully occupied, nor did he attempt to conceal his indignation at the slight put upon him by the New Zealand Institute in the rejection of. three of his papers on Maori nomenclature. ' .... A vote was unanimously passed testifying to Mr Colenso's able services, and cordially thanking him for them. The following'office-bearers wero elected for the ensuing year:—-President, the Bishop of Waiapa ; Vice-President, Dr Spencer ; Treasurer, Mr J. N. Bowcrman ; Secretary, Mr A. Hamilton ; Council, Messrs Newton, Sturm, Weber, Kirker, Holder, and Hill.