PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 282, 7 May 1875, Page 3

PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Institute was held on Thursday at the Public Library, Present —Mr R. W. Fereday, vice-president, in the chair ; Drs Coward and Powell, Professor Bickerton, and Messrs Inglis, and Wakefield (hon sec.) The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following letter from Dr Haast, President of the Institute, was read : “ Christchurch, May 4th, 1875. « sir,—When at the request of the members of the Philosophical Institute I withdrew my resignation as President, I did not think that by so doing I would undertake duties which, under the present state of affairs in relation to the New Zealand Institute, I could not fulfil, “As long as the extraordinary decision of the Governors of the New Zealand Institute remains a rule in the colony, that it is the correct thing for a paid workman to appropriate his employer’s scientific discoveries, a rule by which similar researches are rendered almost impracticable for the future, I must decline to permit the publication of any of my papers in th eir transactions, “As it is expected of the president to deliver an annual address, ! shall not be able to perform that duty, and in order not to impede the usual proceedings of your society, I must therefore once more request the Philosophical Institute to kindly accept my resignation. “ I trust, however, for the honor of the New Zealand Institute, that at a full meeting of the Governors that unwarrantable decision, which I hope has only been passed by a small local clique, will be rescinded, and I shall hope then to be able to resume my active connection with your body, which for many years has been a source of gratification to me; and through you with the New Zealand Institute. “ I have the honor to be, sir, “Your most obedient servant, “ J ulius von Haast. “Chas. M. Wakefield, Esq, “Hon Secretary, “ Philosophical Institute, “ Christchurch, Canterbury.” Mr R. W. Fereday exhibited a cut of wattle tree sown by him in 1865, cut two feet from the ground, which measured 2ft Sin. in circumference. In contradistinction the same gentleman showed a he wattle grown within 100 feet from the previous tree, and planted at same time, which was only two inches in diameter. Both these exhibits were from Tasmanian seed. After a resolution accepting the resignation of the president was carried, the meeting adjourned.