THE OTAGO INSriTUTE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume V, Issue 235, 1 August 1872, Page 6

THE OTAGO INSriTUTE.

The annual meeting of this body waß held on Monday in the University building. Theie were about twenty gentlemen present; aud Mr Hocken, vice-president, presided.

It was reported that Professor Black, and Messrs Fleming, G. M. Thomson, John Hardy, aud Thomas George, had beeu elected members. Mr James Fulton was proposed and elected a member. Mr Brest road the anuual report for the year 1871-2, 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 iv interest. The following is a list of the papers read since the last annual meeting :— " On recent Moa Remains in New Zealand." by Dr Hector. " Notes on Moa Remains," by Mr W. D. Murison. "On Work for Field Natnralists," by Mr P. Thomson. "On a supposed new species of Duck," by Mr Purdie. "On the Fur 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 marie to the Institution, "|by Mr J. S. Webb. "On Proportion applied to Geometry," by Mr Breat. "On Mr Crookes's Exptriments en Psychic Force," by Mr J. S. Webb. "On the Zoiiacal Light," by .Mr rikey. "On the Taieri Floods," by Mr Barr. Several of these arc printed in the fourth volume of the New Zealaud Institute, which has just beeu issued, t 1 n order for books to the value ot about L2O was sent home about threj months ago, and at the same time a spectroscope of high class, to cost abont i 50, was ordered. Arrangements have also been made for the transmission of a further order for books to the amount of L 45 by the outgoiug mail. In selecting the books to be ordered from home, the Council has had the advantage of the advice of Professors Black and Shand, who kindly consent d 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 ad rice of these gentlcment 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 Zoolsgy of Harvard College, the Trustees of the Public Library of Melbourne, and from Mr Justice Chapman. Mr Peter. Thomson read tho report of the Field Naturalist's Club.

Mr Justice Chapman was re elected president ; theßev. Dr Stuart and Mr J. T. Thomson were elected vice-presideuts ; Mr J. S. Webb, treasurer ; Mr Brent, secretary ; and Profess'-rs Black aud Shand, Drs Deck and Hockcn, Messrs R. Gillies, H. Skey, and P. Thomson the Council of the Institute for the ensuing yea r . Two papers were read during 'he evening — one by Mr J. T. Thomson on the Barata 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.

Lib.erai.itt ! — On the 10th insh, the rev. Mr Menzies preached at Beaumont, the object of the sermon being to clear off the remaining debt npon the new church there, which only amounted to a few pounds. The collection after the service amounted to 5s 6d.

The purchase *of the Fitzroy iron mines by an English company has been definitely concluded.