Mr. Robert Nairn exhibited flowering specimens of Garrya elliptica. Professor Dendy exhibited specimens of the vegetable caterpillar (Cordyceps robertsii). FOURTH MEETING: 6th September, 1899. Mr. L. Cockayne, President, in the chair. New Members.-Messrs. H. N. Nalder and C. Harling. On the motion of Captain Hutton, seconded by Sir John Hall, the following resolution was passed by the members standing: "The members of the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury hereby express their sorrow at the death of Mr. R. W. Fereday, who was one of the original members, served for many years on the Council, and contributed several papers to the Transactions." Address.-Mr. T. W. Adams delivered an address on "The Damage caused to the Different Species of Forest Trees by the Long Drought of 1897-98," which was followed by an interesting discussion. Papers.-1. "The Animal Mind as a Factor in Organic Evolution," by Mr. C. W. Purnell. (Transactions, p. 243.) 2. " Description of a New Species of Halictus," by Mr. Peter Cameron; communicated by Captain Hutton. (Transactions, p. 17.) 3. "On New Australian and New Zealand Lichens," by Dr. James Stirton; communicated by Mr. T. W. Naylor Beckett. (Transactions, p. 70.) Mr. T. W. Adams exhibited a large collection of cones. FIFTH MEETING: 4th October, 1899. Mr. L. Cockayne, President, in the chair.. Address.-Mr. J. L. Scott delivered an address on Recent Developments in Mechanical Engineering." "Some Papers.-1. "Note on the Fresh-water Crayfishes of New Zealand," by Dr. Charles Chilton. (Transactions, p. 13.) 2. "On a New Genus of Mosses," by Mr. R. Brown. (Transactions, p. 148.) 3. "Revised List of New Zealand Seaweeds: Part I.," by Mr. R. M. Laing. (Transactions, p. 57.) SIXTH MEETING: 1st November, 1899. Mr. L. Cockayne, President, in the chair. Papers.-1. On the Tipulida of New Zealand," by Captain Hutton. (Transactions, p. 22.) 2. "On the Seedling Forms of New Zealand Phanerogams: Part III.," by Mr. L. Cockayne. (Transactions, p. 83.) Dr. Evans exhibited a new form of ether saturator. Professor Dendy exhibited some centipedes from the North Island, and a specimen of Clematis apparently attacked by a fungus. ANNUAL MEETING: 4th April, 1900. Mr. L. Cockayne, President, in the chair. ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL REPORT. Since the last annual meeting six ordinary meetings have been held, ati which thirteen technical papers have been read, classifiable as follows: Botany, 7; zoology, 6. At four of these meetings addresses of a more or less popular character have also been delivered, as follows: "On the Life-history of Words," by Professor Arnold Wall; "On Wireless Telegraphy," by Mr. J. S. S. Cooper; "On the Damage caused to the Different Species of Forest Trees by the Long Drought of 1897-98," by Mr. T. W. Adams; "On some Recent Developments in Mechanical Engineering," by Mr. J. L. Scott. The attendance at the ordinary meetings has averaged 23.3. The principal event of the year was the delivery of a popular lecture. by Professor Benham, D.Sc., of the Otago University, on " Light Production in Animals." This lecture was delivered on the 21st July in the hall of the Canterbury College, and was very well attended by members and their friends, and very highly appreciated. It is hoped that the practice of inviting distinguished lecturers from other parts of New Zealand to deliver popular lectures on behalf of the Institute may be continued with like success this session. The Council record with deep regret the death of one of the oldest members, Mr. R. W. Fereday. The Council has met nine times since the last annual meeting. The Hon. C. C. Bowen has again been nominated to represent this Institute on the Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute. The number of members for the year 1899 was seventy, as compared with seventy-five for the previous year. The balance-sheet shows that the total receipts for the year have been £67 15s. 6d., including a life-subscription of £10 10s.; and the total expenditure has been £81 0s. 5d., reducing the balance in the bank to £4 15s. The sum of £10 10s., however, has been added to the invested funds. The sum of £35 12s. 10d. has been expended upon books and binding, and the library is now in excellent order. ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR 1900.- President — Captain F. W. Hutton; Vice-presidents-L. Cockayne, J. B. Mayne; Hon. Secretary-Professor A. Dendy; Hon. Treasurer-Captain F. W. Hutton; Council-Dr. Symes, H. R. Webb, R. M. Laing, Professor Wall, Professor Scott, J. S. S. Cooper; Hon. Auditor-George Way. Presidential Address.-The retiring President, Mr. L. Cockayne, delivered an address on "Some Little-known Country in the Waimakariri District." Mr. R. Nairn exhibited a flowering specimen of Anigozanthus from the Swan River, Australia. Professor Dendy exhibited an experiment to show the formation of starch by green plants in the presence of sunlight. Professor Dendy exhibited living and preserved specimens of a new species of Peripatus (P. viridimaculatus), lately discovered by him in the neighbourhood of Lake Te Anau. This species was distinguished by the presence of only fourteen pairs of walking-legs, two rows of green spots on the back, and a prominent ovipositor in the female. It doubtless laid eggs, like the Victorian P. oviparus. Other species of Peripatus were exhibited in comparison with the above. OTAGO INSTITUTE. FIRST MEETING: 12th May, 1899. The session was opened with a conversazione, held at the University Museum. The President, Mr. F. R. Chapman, exhibited typical specimens from his collection of stone implements from New Zealand and other countries, as well as a series of old and rare books. Dr. Hocken lent a number of his steel-plate engravings representing various celebrities connected with the history of New Zealand. Mr. Hamilton exhibited a series of fine Maori mats, belts, and other articles made of flax and feathers. Professor Benham exhibited the specimen of Notornis* recently acquired by the Government, and deposited in the Museum; a complete moa's egg, recently obtained from the Molyneux; and a number of new and rare zoological specimens obtained during a recent trawling expedition off the coast. Dr. De Lautour exhibited apparatus illustrating the application of Röntgen rays. SECOND MEETING: 6th June, 1899. Dr. T. M. Hocken, Vice-president, in the chair. New Members.-Dr. De Lautour, Mr. Walter Carew, Mr. C. W. Chamberlain. Professor Benham gave an address on "The Ultimate Vital Unit," illustrated by a number of diagrams of the minute structure of the animal and vegetable cell and nucleus. * See Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxxi., p. 743. THIRD MEETING: 11th July, 1899. Mr. F. R. Chapman, President, in the chair. In his opening remarks the President referred to the death of Mr. A. E. Purdie, one of the original members of the Institute. The President then gave an account of the discovery and acquirement of a complete moa's egg, recently secured by the Museum through the good offices of Mr. Alexander Black. The egg was exhibited at the meeting. Professor Benham then gave a brief account of the zoological results of the trial trawling expeditions recently undertaken in the s.s. "Plucky" off the coast of Otago. (Transactions, p. 1.) He exhibited and made some remarks upon several of the more interesting new animals obtained. Mr. Hamilton exhibited Part III. of the Edge-Partington album of sketches of Polynesian ethnology, and drew attention to the large number of New Zealand objects therein figured. Mr. Crosby Smith exhibited, on behalf of Mr. A. Black, an example of hypertrophied incisor teeth in a rabbit. Professor Benham laid on the table a paper on the anatomy and egg of a stick insect. FOURTH MEETING: 16th August, 1899. Mr. F. R. Chapman, President, in the chair. The President drew attention to the splendid work on New Zealand moths and butterflies by Mr. G. V. Hudson. Miss Marchant read a paper on Jane Austen." FIFTH MEETING: 12th September, 1899. Mr. F. R. Chapman, President, in the chair. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. A. Hamilton, laid on the table that portion of the late Mr. T. Kirk's "New Zealand Flora' issued by the Government. Carew gave an account of witchcraft as practised in |