THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Issue 2941, 23 July 1872, Page 2

THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

The annual meeting df this body was held last evening in the University building. There were about twenty gentlemen present; and Mr Hocken, vice-president, presided. It was reported that Professor Black, and Messrs Fleming, G. M. Thomson, John Hardy, and Thomas George, had been elected members. Mr James Fulton was proposed and elected a member. Mr Blue NT r ad the annual report for the year 1871--, which was as follows : The Council, in presenting its annual report, is again able to congratulate the members of the institute on its steady progress. The number of meetings held during the past twelve months has not been quite so large as in former years. The proceedings of these meetings have, however, not been behind those of former years in interest. The following is a list of the papers read since the lasi annual meeting On recent Moa Remains in New Zea'and.” by Dr Hector. “ Notes on Moa Remains,” by Mr W. D. Murison. “On Work for Field Naturalists,” by Mr P. Thomson. “On a supposed new species of Duck,” by Mr Purdio. “On the Far Seal of New Zealand,” by Dr Hector. “On the Fur Seal of New Zealand,” by Mr J. S. Webb. “On Sir William Thomson’s Hypothesis that the Germ of Life is derived from Meteors,” by Mr Martin Chapman. “ A Description of Presents recently made to the Institution,” by Mr J. S. Webb. “On Proportion applied to Geometry,” by Mr Brent. “On Mr Crookes’s Experiments on Psychic Force,” by Mr J. S. Webb. “On the Zodiacal Light,” by Mr Skey. “Onthe Taicri Floods,” by Mr Barr. Several of these are printed in the fourth volume of the New Zealand Institute, which has just been issued. n order for books to the value ot about L2O was sent home about thros months ago, and at the same time a spectroscope of high class, to cost about I 50, was ordered. Arrangements have also been made fur the transmission of a further order for books to the amount of L 45 by the outgoing mail. In selecting the books to bo ordered from home, the Council has had the advantage of the advice of Professors Black and Shand, who kindly consented to assist the Library Committee in its work. In deciding upon the purchase of a spectroscope of considerable power, the Council has been guided by the advice of these gentlemen, who expressed their opinion that the need of an instrument of this class was much greater than for a microscope, which otherwise it had been intended to order.

The library of the Institute has, during the past year, received valuable presents from the Smithsonian Institution of Washington, the Museum of Comparative Zoology of Harvard College, the Trustees of the Public Library of Melbourne, and from Mr Justice Chapman. Mr Peter Thomson read the report of the Field Naturalist’s Club. Mr Justice Chapman was re elected president ; the Rev. Dr Stuart and Mr J. T, Thomson were elected vice-presidents ; Mr J. S. Webb, treasurer; Mr Brent, secretary; and Professors Black and Shand, Drs Deck and Hocken, Messrs R. Gillies, H. Skey, and P. Thomson the Council of the Institute for the ensuing year. Two papers were read during Iho evening —one by Mr J. T. Thomson on the Harata minerals; the other by Mr J. S. Webb on local variations of atmospheric pressure being dependent on the strength of winds. it was intimated that the inaugural address of the session would be delivered by Mr Justice Chapman on August 13th,