WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4267, 23 November 1874, Page 3

WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

A general meeting of this society was held at the Colonial Museum on Saturday evening, the President, Dr. Knight, in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the Secretary (Mr. R. B. Gore) announced the election of Mr. Kenneth Wilson, 8.A., and Mr. E. Tobmath, as members of the society. The nomination of a member to vote in the election of governors was then proceeded with, and Dr. Knight chosen unanimously. , Mr. Travkbs proposed Professor Wyville Thomson, of the Challenger expedition, as the honorary member to be elected for the year. In the course of his remarks, Mr. Travers alluded to the services rendered by the learned professor in the cause of science in New Zealand, and stated that in all probability a great deal of valuable information would yet be received from him, from the results of his scientific survey. The Hon. Mr. Watebhowsb, who seconded the proposal, not only considered the selection a wise one, but looked upon it as a fitting recognition of the interest exhibited by Professor Thomson in the proceedings of the society. The motion was unanimously agreed to. An interesting paper was then read :—" On the Duplex System of Telegraphy," by Mr. C. Lemon, The paper (which was read by Mr. Travers in the absence of the author), was illustrated by a number of explanatory sections, which helped to unravel the intricacies of the system, and render it comprehensible to the meeting. The subject was followed up by a very interesting discussion, in which Dr. Knight, Mr. Travers, Mr. Heale, and the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse took part. Upon the motion of the Hon. Mr. Waterhouae, an unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Lemon, for having placed the paper at the disposal of the society for publication in the "Transactions."

A paper on the occurrence in New Zealand of Plotus nova hoUandiw, the Australian Darter, was read; also one on the flowering plants and ferns of the Chatham Islands, by Mr. J. Buchanan. Dr. Knight contributed a description of the Lichens of New Zealand, and laid on tho table a number of drawings and specimens to illustrate his notes. Mr. Kirk mentioned having discovered two. ' plants new to' New Zealand; and .an abstract of a chemical paper by Mr. Skey was read. ' '.''' , '"' ■ Before the close of the meeting Mr. Travers exhibited a bottle'containing worms, found by Mr. Bidwell, of the Wairarapa; in the throat and nostrils of some sheep. Mr. Waterhouse informed the'meeting that .these worms'were very injurious to sheep—often causing death, no doubt, from suffocation. Mr.'' Travers thought the worms were taken in the system by the sheep while drinking from, stagnant pools, where the worms abound.. Some further observations were made upon, the matter, after which the meeting adjourned, .',"