SEVENTH MEETING: 21st October, 1907. Mr. E. V. Miller, President, in the chair.. New Members.-W. Burnside, Miss E. M. Griffin, Dr. Purdy, T. W. Wells. 66 Professor H. A. Segar delivered a popular lecture on The Struggle for Foreign Trade." (Abstract, p. 520). After the close of the lecture a lengthy discussion arose, in which many members took part. 66 EIGHTH MEETING: 30th October, 1907. Mr. E. V. Miller, President, in the chair. Papers.-1. "Maori Forest Lore," by Elsdon Best (p. 185). 2. Contributions to a Fuller Knowledge of the New Zealand Flora: No. 2," by T. F. Cheeseman (p. 270). NINTH MEETING: 4th November, 1907. Mr. E. V. Miller, President, in the chair. Mr. K. Watkins delivered a popular lecture, entitled "The Canoe that brought the Maoris to New Zealand; or, a Glimpse of Polynesia in the Past." An armada of at least six canoes, called by the ancient Maoris the "Great Heke," left Tahiti about the year 1350, and, after a rendezvous at Rarotonga, left Ngatangiia Harbour for New Zealand direct. From various traditions and legends it could be gathered that the canoes were double canoes, that they had masts, a deck-house, and a stage above it. Mr. Watkins exhibited a model of a canoe of this kind which had been lent to him by Mr. J. L. Young, and which he considered was a close approximation to the canoe used by the Polynesians for their longer voyages There was every reason to believe that the Maori war-canoe as seen by Europeans when New Zealand was first discovered was a comparatively recent invention, and was adopted by the Maori colonists to meet the new conditions they were placed in when they finally settled down in New Zealand, and when communication with Polynesia ceased. Mr. Watkins considered that voyages to and from Polynesia and New Zealand must not be considered extraordinary, seeing that there was ample proof that at one time voyages were regularly made between localities in the north, west, and east of Polynesia thousands of miles apart, and that there were traditions of voyages having been made as far south as the antarctic regions. TENTH MEETING: 12th December, 1907. Mr. E. V. Miller, President, in the chair. New Member.-J. Clement Cuff. Papers.-1. Additions to the New Zealand Molluscan Fauna," by Rev. W. Webster (p. 254). 66 2. Notes on the Destruction of Kumaras by Beetles," by Major T. Broun (p. 262). 66 3. Remarks on a Parasitic Fungus allied to Cordyceps clavatula," by Major T. Broun. In a report for the Agricultural Department, dated the 30th June, 1897, when dealing with a fungus found destructive to the codlin-moth, I also mentioned the discovery, in 1895, of another fungus which still continues doing valuable service in destroying some pernicious scale insects. As that report was a mere record of its discovery, it may prove interesting to gardeners and fruit-growers if I now add something more about it. It may be stated that this fungus is better known by the name applied to it by local nurserymen-i.e., " Broun's fungus." 66 If the black scale (Lecanium olea) on an affected lemon or orange tree be carefully examined it will be seen that a few slender grey filaments stretch across it; these in time form a film over the surface, and ultimately a complete ring which wholly embraces the base of the scale as adhering to the leaf or branch. This greyish deadly circle forms a sort of cement around the waxy covering of the female insect and scale in such a manner that the eggs and young larvæ must remain under the scale itself. There is no possibility of escape, so they die, sealed up under their natural protective waxy shield or scale, and are thus prevented from spreading and injuring the tree or its fruit. Some lemon-trees at Whangarei that were badly infested with this scale, accompanied by this natural enemy, were again examined within a year after my first visit to them, when I failed to detect a single Lecanium olea all had been destroyed by this fungus. There had been no spraying and no artificial removal. Lecanium hesperidum, often called the holly and ivy scale, besides being perforated by minute parasitic flies (Encyrtus flavus, for example) is also destroyed by this or a nearly related fungus. 4. "Notice of the Occurrence of the Lesser Frigate-bird in New Zealand," by T. F. Cheeseman (p. 265). 5. "On the Occurrence of certain Marine Reptilia in New Zealand," by T. F. Cheeseman (p. 267). ANNUAL MEETING: 24th February, 1908. Mr. E. V. Miller, President, in the chair. The annual report and audited financial statement was read and adopted. ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL REPORT. During the year seventeen new members have been elected, and fourteen names withdrawn from the roll, leaving a net gain of six. The total number on the roll is now 176. Among the members removed by death were Mr. T. H. Smith, who served for some years on the Council, and who was well known as a leading authority on the language, manners, and customs of the Maori race; and Mr. W. Will, late editor of the Weekly News. Eulogistic reference was made in the report to the great services rendered to science, and especially to the New Zealand Institute, by the late Sir James Hector. The balance-sheet showed a total revenue of £1,805 18s. 3d., exclusive of a balance in hand at the commencement of the year of £84 4s. 3d. This includes a Government subsidy of £660 on the amount raised by subscription for the erection of the Maori house and the purchase of Mr. Fenton's pataka, and also an item of £112 10s., balance of the Mackechnie bequest for the purchase of groups of animals. Deducting these sums, the ordinary revenue was £1,033 8s. 3d., and of this the receipts from the Museum endowment amounted to £419 13s. 2d. The invested funds of the Costley bequest yielded £355 12s.; interest on the Mackechnie library bequest, £96 10s.; and the annual subscriptions, £147. The total expenditure has been £1,236 2s. 4d., including £158 ls. 3d., balance of cost of the erection of the Maori house, and £139 18s. 3d. on account of the groups of animals for the Museum. The credit balance in the Bank of New Zealand The total amount of the invested funds of the is, therefore, £654 0s. 2d. Institute is £16,308 4s. 3d. Ten meetings were held during the year, at which the following papers were read: 1. Introductory address by the President, Mr. E. V. Miller. 66 2. The Passing of the Maori," by the Rev. Archdeacon Walsh. 3. Science and Metaphysics," by Dr. R. Briffault. 4. "On the Vegetation of Mount Hector, Tararua Range," by D. Petrie. 66 5. Description of a New Species of Veronica," by D. Petrie. 6. 7. 66 Botanical Nomenclature," by T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. Translation of Dumont D'Urville's Account of his Visit to Tasman Bay," by S. Percy Smith. 8. The Composition of the Sun," by F. P. Worley, M. A. 9. "The Disposal of City Sewage," by W. E. Bush, C.E. 10. The Struggle for Foreign Trade," by Professor H. A. Segar. 11. Maori Forest Lore," by Elsdon Best. 12. "Contributions to a Fuller Knowledge of the New Zealand Flora," by T. F. Cheeseman. 66 13. The Canoe that brought the Maoris to New Zealand; or, a Glimpse of Polynesia in the Past," by K. Watkins. 14. Additions to the New Zealand Fauna," by the Rev. W. H. Webster. 15. "Notes on the Destruction of Kumaras by Beetles," by Major T. Broun. 16. On a Fungus (Cordyceps sp.) destructive to Scale Insects," by Major T. Broun. 17. “ 'Notice of the Occurrence of certain Marine Reptilia in New Zealand," by T. F. Cheeseman. 18. "Notice of the Occurrence of the Lesser Frigate-bird in New Zealand," by T. F. Cheeseman. The attendance of the public at the Museum for the past year is estimated at 68,055, as against 62,551 for the previous year. After defraying the balance due for the erection of the Maori house, a sum of £500 remained for expenditure in the Museum, and of this amount about £400 is being spent in providing a properly equipped workroom. Provision is also being made for the exhibition of the collection of foreign (mainly Polynesian) ethnographical specimens. The Hon. E. Mitchelson has deposited his valuable collection of kauri-gum, probably the most complete ever formed, and likely to possess still greater interest when the trade in kauri-gum has become a memory of the past. ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 1908.-President-E. V. Miller; Vice-Presidents-Professor F. D. Brown, M.A., and Professor A. P. W. Thomas, M.A.; Council-L. J. Bagnall, H. Haines, H. D. M. Haszard, J. Kirker, T. Peacock, D. Petrie, J. A. Pond, J. Reid, Professor H. W. Segar, M.A., J. Stewart, C.E., J. H. Upton; Trustees-Professor F. D. Brown, M.A., T. Peacock, J. Reid, J. Stewart, C.E., J. H. Upton; Secretary and CuratorT. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S., F.Z.S.; Auditor-W. Gorrie. PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY. FIRST MEETING: 1st May, 1907. The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and forty-six others present. New Member.-T. H. Jackson. On the motion of the President, resolutions of sympathy were carried with the families of the late Mr. R. Brown and Mr. T. W. Naylor-Beckett. Dr. Chilton gave a résumé of the proceedings at the meeting of the New Zealand Institute in January. Mr. R. Speight, the retiring President, gave an address on "Some Aspects of the Terrace-development in the Valleys of the Canterbury Rivers" (p. 16). The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and thirty others. present. New Members.-W. J. O'Donnell, G. A. Sommers, A. Taylor, J. Ingram, and Rev. H. Adamson. On the motion of the President, a resolution of congratulation was carried with Professor Benham on his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society. A discussion then ensued on Mr. Speight's ex-presidential address, in which Dr. Cockayne, the President, Messrs. Hogg, Mulgan, Laing, and Page took part. THIRD MEETING: 3rd July, 1907. The President, Dr. Hilgendorf, in the chair, and forty others present. 66 The President, referring to the death of Sir John Hall, moved That the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury desires to place on record its sorrow at the death of Sir J. Hall, one of its oldest members, and its appreciation of his many public services." This was carried, those present standing. New Members.-Mrs. Waymouth, Miss Wilson, and Mr. J. C. Andersen. A resolution of congratulation was carried with Sir Joseph Hooker, F.R.S., on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday. Dr. Cockayne gave an address on "The Vegetation of Stewart Island." Papers.-1. "On Simson's Line," by E. Hogg, M.A. 66 2. On a Case of Variation in Cotula Haastii," by Dr. Cockayne. Dr. Chilton shortly explained Mr. Kirkaldy's paper on a "Heteropterous Hemipteron" (p. 109). Exhibits. Dr. Symes exhibited the blue-gum scale, and the ladybird its natural enemy. FOURTH MEETING: 7th August, 1907. Mr. R. Speight in the chair, and forty others present. Mr. Speight called attention to the letting of the contract for the Arthur's Pass Tunnel, and to the scientific questions which might be elucidated in the progress of this great work. The matter was referred to the Council. Mr. T. W. Adams read an address on the genus Pinus, which was illustrated by numerous exhibits. A paper on The Prevalent Wind of Kaikoura," by the late Dr. Gunn, was read by Mr. A. H. Cockayne, as follows: Upper clouds, and directions, for years 1902-4 (inclusive), as made at Kaikoura, Marlborough, New Zealand; situated ten miles south of Kaikoura Ranges, the altitude of which is 8,000 ft. Latitude, 42° 26′ 30′′ S.; longitude, 173° 45′ E.; height above sea-level, 50 ft. ; distance from sea, quarter of a mile. Records of upper-cloud (cirrus, cirrostratus, and cirro-cumulus) movement, which I have kept for ten years, although the three years 1902-4 have only so far been collated. During these three years, out of 224 observations the drift of cloud was from south-west on eighty-seven occasions, from north-west on sixty-two occasions, from west on sixty occasions, from south on nine occasions, from southeast on three occasions, from north-east on two occasions, from north on one occasion, and from east on no occasions. This almost invariable drift from the westward shows that to be the general motion of the higher atmospheric currents. They are, I consider, the antitrades. 60 87 62 NORTH Mr. E. Hitchings showed some diagrams relating to sunspot statistics. |