# Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute/Volume 15/Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute

HAWKE'S BAY PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.
Annual General Meeting. 6th February, 1882.
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair.
Election of Officers for 1882:—President—The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu; Vice-President—Dr. Spencer; Honorary Secretary and Treasurer—Mr. Colenso; Council—Messrs. H. Baker, H. E. Holder, J. G. Kinross, F. J. de Lisle, F. W. C. Sturm, C. H. Weber; Auditor—T. K. Newton.
ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL REPORT.
During the past winter session six ordinary meetings were held, at which nine papers prepared by members were read.
The number of members is 107, being an increase of 22 on the number of the previous year.
Throughout the year several zoological, botanical, palæontological, and geological specimens were collected by a few of the members of the Institute for the Museum.
The audited statement of accounts shows a balance of £271 15s. 7d. remaining to the credit of the society.
First Meeting. 8th May, 1882.
Dr. Spencer, Vice-President, in the chair.
1. The Chairman gave an address on the opening of the winter session.
2. "On the large Number of Species of Ferns noticed in a small Area in the New Zealand Forests, in the 'Seventy-Mile Bush,' between Norsewood, and Danneverke, in the Provincial District of Hawke's Bay," by W. Colenso, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 311.)
This paper was illustrated with several botanical specimens.
3. The Hon. Secretary gave a brief address to the memory of Dr. Darwin, lately deceased, as a great and useful man. Mr. Colenso had made his acquaintance in 1835, while residing at the Bay of Islands, when Capt. (afterwards Admiral) Fitzroy and Dr. Darwin were in that harbour together in H.M.S. "Beagle," on their voyage home to England from surveying in the Straits of Magellan.
The address was supported by fitting remarks from some of the members present.
4. Some fine specimens of rare and curious insects, of the orders Neuroptera and Orthoptera, in their various stages of transformation, were also exhibited by the Hon. Secretary.
Second Meeting. 12th June, 1882.
Dr. Spencer, Vice-President, in the chair.
1. "A Description of four New Zealand Ferns believed to be new to Science," by W. Colenso, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 304.)
Specimens of the same in their various stages, together with those of some other plants, were also shown; and specimens of all the ferns were reserved for the Colonial Museum.
2. "On the hackneyed Quotation of 'Macaulay's New Zealander,'" by W. Colenso, F.L.S.
3. A fine and extensive suite of nicely preserved specimens of British and European Sphagna (more than 100 in number), lately received from Mr. Wm. Curnow, of Penzance, England, were also shown; and some highly curious teeth and fragments of bones (not fossil) of some small unknown Mammal, found by Mr. Balfour at Glenross, Hawke's Bay, were exhibited. These teeth, with their finely cut surfaces of numerous sharp points, excited great interest; they seemed to have belonged to some insectivorous animal. The whole lot was sent to Wellington, to Dr. Hector, for critical examination.
Third Meeting, 10th July, 1882.
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair.
New Members.—Dr. Caro, Rev. A. D. Mulvihill, Wm. Bogle, L. Lessong, F. Reader.
1. "On Nomenclature," part i., by W. Colenso, F.L.S.
1. Mr. Hamilton exhibited a collection of Sponges of various kinds and sizes, all from Hawke's Bay, with explanatory remarks on the nature, varieties, and growth of sponges.
Fourth Meeting. 14th August, 1882.
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair.
New Members.—Wm. Balfour, J. J. Drennan.
1. "Historical Traditions of the Taupo and East Coast Tribes, by S. Locke. (Transactions, p. 433.)
2. Mr. Colenso called the attention of the members to Mr. Montagu Lubbock's able paper "On the Development of the Colour Sense" (in the "Fortnightly Review" for April, 1882), as fully bearing out what he (Mr. Colenso) had last year brought before them in his paper "On the Colour Sense of the Ancient Maoris," and published in this year's vol. (xiv.) of the "Transactions N.Z. Institute." He also read several extracts from Mr. Lubbock's paper in confirmation.
Fifth Meeting. 11th September, 1882.
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair.
1. "On some newly-discovered New Zealand Arachnids" by W. Colenso, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 165.)
This paper was illustrated by specimens.
2. "On Nomenclature," part ii., by W. Colenso, F.L.S.
{fine block|3. Fossil specimens of marine shells were exhibited, found by Mr. John Stewart in the neighbourhood of Takapau, county of Waipawa.}}
​{{c|Sixth Meeting. 9th October, 1882.
Dr, Spencer, Vice-President, in the chair.
New Members.—Messrs. E. B. Bendall, H. J. Gilberd, W. Scott.
1. "Maori Legends and Traditions respecting the Inhabitants of the East Coast and Hawke's Bay," (in continuation), by S. Locke. (Transactions, p. 445.)
2. "Notes on Freshwater Algæ from the District of Hawke's Bay," by W. I. Spencer, M.R.C.S. (Transactions, p. 302.)
3. "Descriptions of a few new Indigenous Plants," by W. Colenso, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 320.)
Specimens of the several plants were exhibited.
Council Meeting. 1st November, 1882.
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair.
1. Dr. Spencer, the Vice-President, was elected to vote in the election of the Board of Governors for the ensuing year, in accordance with clause 7 of the N.Z. Institute Act.
2. Nomination was made for election of an honorary member of the N.Z. Institute, to fill up one of the late vacancies in the list caused by the deaths of some honorary members.
Annual Meeting. 6th February, 1883.
ABSTRACT OF ANNUAL REPORT
During the past session six ordinary meetings have been held. Ten papers were read at those meetings, viz.:—One on Zoology, four on Botany, and five on miscellaneous subjects.
Besides those written papers there were also some suitable addresses and lectures given—by the Vice-President at the opening of the winter session, by the Hon. Secretary to the memory of Dr. Darwin, and "On the Development of the Colour Sense," and by Mr. Hamilton, with reference to a collection of Sponges exhibited by him.
During the year seven meetings of the Council were held—for the election of new members; the selecting and ordering of books from England for the Library; the obtaining a lease for a term of years of a spacious room in the Athenæum from the trustees of the same; and for the general advancement and benefit of the Society.
There is a total of 108 members now on the roll, two members having died during the year, and eleven new members having been elected.
The valuable scientific works, ordered from England in the early part of the year, amounting to nearly seventy volumes, have been received.
In addition to the standard works in the Library, the Council have agreed to order both from England and from Australia several scientific serials—as "Nature," "The Popular Science Observer," "Knowledge," and "The Natural History of Victoria (Zoology)."
The statement of accounts shows a credit balance of £215; the total expenditure for the year having been £1S0 4s. 0d., of which no less a sum than £81 11s. 10d. was expended on books and £75 in hire of premises.
​Election of Officers for 1883:—President—The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu; Vice-President—W. I. Spencer (Mayor); Hon. Secretary and Treasurer—W. Colenso; Council—T. W. Balfour, J. N. Bowerman, H. B. Holder, T. K. Newton, F. W. C. Sturm, C. H. Weber; Auditor—T. K. Newton.