Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute/Volume 3

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3744147Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute — Volume 3

TRANSACTIONS

AND

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE,

1870.

VOL. III.

EDITED AND PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE INSTITUTE,

BY

JAMES HECTOR, M.D., F.R.S.

Issued May, 1871.

WELLINGTON:
JAMES HUGHES, PRINTER, LAMBTON QUAY

TRUBNER & CO., 60, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.

PREFACE

The arrangement of the third vohime of the Transactions has been altered from that adopted in either of the preceding volumes, in order to meet a generally expressed wish that the Proceedings should be issued in anticipation of the main body of the work, the publication of which is necessarily delayed on account of the illustrations. The Proceedings of the Societies were therefore printed in a separate form, and published in July and January last.

The quantity of matter contributed for publication being greatly in excess of that in any former year, the Governors have been reluctantly compelled to order the abridgment, in some cases, of papers of interest, and to postpone the publication of the following:—"On the Mechanics and Mechanical Economy of Railways," by G. M. Barr; "On Economical Railways and Rolling Stock," and "On the Power required for Working Flax Machines," by James Stewart, C.E.; "On Co-operation, as regards the Union of Capital and Labour," by Stuart Hawthorne; "Notes on Mr. Hawthorne's Paper on Co-operation," by Robert Stout; "On the Sailing Flight of the Albatros; a Reply to J. S. Webb," by Capt. Hutton, F.G.S.; "On the Adaptation of India-rubber Tires to Wooden Tramways," by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S.; "On the Analysis of the Registry of Mortality in the Christchurch District the last ten years," by Ll. Powell, M.R.C.S.St.A.; "On the Best Means of Diffusing, and Promoting Higher Education in this Colony," by Frank C. Simmons, M.A., Head Master of Nelson College; "On the Botany of Tahiti;" "Ethnographical Considerations on the Whence of the Maori," by J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S.

The three Papers first mentioned, being of a practical and technical character, will probably be published with other Official Reports on the same subjects, while the others, with one exception, were selected for postponement on account of their being either of a controversial character, or because they have been already published at length in public prints. With regard, however, to Mr. Thomson's elaborate Ethnographical Paper on the "Origin of the Maori Race," it is necessary to state that the manuscript copy was not received until April, when the volume was almost ready for publication, and as this Essay requires many illustrations it could not be inserted without delaying the issue of the volume beyond the period at which Members expect its distribution.

It will be observed that the greatly increased space occupied by original articles, viz., 351 pages as against 248 pages in Vol. II., has also excluded from publication Lectures and Addresses of a general character, such as were inserted in a separate section of the preceding volume.

The Appendix contains the usual Summary of the Meteorological Returns for the year, for assistance in the compilation of which the Editor is indebted to Mr. R. B. Gore.

The List of Members of the Institute shows that in addition to the nine Honorary Members, the Affiliated Societies have now 544 Ordinary Members; the number on last year's roll being 342. This increase is due in part to the affiliation during the past year of the Nelson Association, and also to the large accession of new Members, especially in the Societies established in Auckland and Dunedin.

Notwithstanding that in several cases illustrations sent with papers have been omitted when not absolutely necessary to explain the text, the number of Plates has increased in this volume to 30; there being in last year's volume only 23. The Governors have again to tender their thanks to Mr. J. Buchanan for the great zeal with which he has devoted himself to the preparation of these illustrations, and to the Hon. the Colonial Secretary for placing at their disposal the superior skill and appliances of the Government Lithographic Printing Department.

For assistance in revising a portion of the work for the press during his temporary absence, the Editor has to thank the Hon. W. B. D. Mantell.

Wellington, 20th April, 1871.

CONTENTS.

PROCEEDINGS.

(INCLUDING MINUTES OF MEETINGS, ANNIVERSARY ADDRESSES, ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS, VERBAL DESCRIPTIONS, ETC.)

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.
			PAGES
Anniversary Address of the President, Sir George F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.			1–7
First Annual Report by the Governors			9–10
Accounts of the New Zealand Institute, 1868–69			11
Second Annual Report by the Governors			11–14
Accounts of the New Zealand Institute, 1869–70			14

WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
Abstract Report of Council			15
Election of Office-bearers for 1870			15
Description of a Specimen of Berardius Arnuxii. By F. J. Knox, L.P.C.S.E.			15–16
Geological Structure of the Kaimanawa Range. By J. Hector, M.D., F.R.S.			16–17
Anniversary Address of the President, the Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, F.G.S.			17–24
Notice of a Meteor observed from Wellington. By E. Stowe			24
Meetings for Discussion on Flax			27–35
Notes on Specimens of Adipocere. By J. Hector, M.D., F.R.S.			73
Notice of a Meteor observed from Wellington by Mr. Hardy			76
Results of Observations taken for Longitude by Meridian Transits of the Moon, taken at the Hutt Observatory. By Henry Jackson, Chief Surveyor Province of Wellington. (Abstract. )			82–83

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.
Abstract of Annual Report			39
Anniversary Address of the President, Rev. A. G. Purchas, M.R.C.S.E.			39–46
On certain changes in the Habits of Rats, at Raglan. Letter from Captain Johnstone to Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S.			47
On a supposed Native Rat, observed at Whangarei. Extract from a letter from Mr. J. Martin to Captain Hutton			88
On certain projected Street Improvements in Auckland. By R. W. Dyson			90–91

PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY.
Interim Report of the Grass Committee, with Schedule of Queries and List of Native Grasses with regard to which information is specially desired			51–52
Resolutions passed respecting desirability of Establishing Schools of Mines in New Zealand			92–93
Draft Petition to House of Representatives on Establishment of Schools of Mines			94
Annual Report			96–97
Report of the Committee appointed to confer with the Provincial Government on the Institution of Lectureships in connection with the Museum			97
Report of the Committee appointed to obtain information as to Native and other Grasses			97–98

OTAGO INSTITUTE.
Note on Coastal Whaling Stations, and the probability of their being instrumental in the destruction of the young of the Whale. By J. S. Webb			55–56
On Modern Methods of Geometry. By D. Brent. (Abstract.)			59–60
On the Moon and the Weather. By J. S. Webb. (Abstract.)			62–64
On the Discovery of New Zealand. By A. Eccles, F.R.C.S. (Abstract.)			65
Abstract of Report			67–68
Election of Office-bearers			68
Report on the Whale Fisheries. By the Honorary Secretary			68–70
On a (supposed) New Species of Bittern, from the Lake District. By A. C. Purdie. (Abstract.)			99–100
On the Skeleton of a Bird (supposed to be a Swan) found in Dunedin. By A. C. Purdie. (Abstract.)			100
On Central Forces,—especially as regards Force varying directly as the distance. By R. Wilding. (Abstract.)			101

NELSON ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
On Technical Education. By Mr. Mackay. (Abstract. )			107–108
Election of Office-bearers			109

TRANSACTIONS.
Zoology.
Art.	I.	On the New Zealand Rat. By Walter Buller, F.L.S., F.G.S.	1–4
	II.	A List of the Lizards inhabiting New Zealand, with Descriptions. By Walter Buller	4–11
	III.	Critical Notes on the Ornithological portion of "Taylor's New Zealand and its Inhabitants." By Walter Buller	11–14
	IV.	Notice of a Species of Megapode, in the Auckland Museum. By Walter Buller	14–15
	V.	On Zosterops lateralis in New Zealand, with an Account of its Migrations. By Walter Buller	15–23
	VI.	On the Structure and Habits of the Huia (Heteralocha Gouldi). By Walter Buller	24–29
	VII.	On the Katipo, or Venomous Spider of New Zealand. By Walter Buller	29–34
	VIII.	Notes on the Genus Deinacrida in New Zealand. By Walter Buller	34–37
	IX.	Further Notes on the Ornithology of New Zealand. By Walter Buller	37–56
		Note to Art. II.—Buller's List of New Zealand Lizards	56
	X.	On Latrodectus (Katipo), the Poisonous Spider of New Zealand. By Ll. Powell, M.R.C.S.St.A.	56–59
	XI.	On the Birds of New Zealand (Part II.) By T. H. Potts	59–109
	XII.	Notes on an Egg of Alea impennis, Linn., in the Collection of the writer. By T. H. Potts	109–110
	XIII.	On the Nests and Eggs of some Species of New Zealand Birds not previously described. By Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S.	111–112
	XIV.	Notes on the Habits of Podiceps cristatus. By W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S.	113–116
	XV.	Notes upon a New Zealand Flesh-fly. By W. T. L. Travers	116–120
	XVI.	On the Absence of the Eel from the Upper Waters of the Waiau-ua and its Tributaries. By W. T. L. Travers	120–122
	XVII.	Notes on the Skull of Balæna marginata, described in "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute," Vol. ii., p. 26, as the Type of a New Genus, Neobalæna. By Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S., etc.	123–124
	XVIII.	Observations on the Ziphidæ, a Family of the Cetacea. By F. J. Knox, L.R.S.E. With Notes by Dr. Hector	125–129
	XIX.	Short Notice of a Remarkable Tooth of a Cetacean. By F. J. Knox	130
	XX.	Observations on Coridodax pullus. By F. J. Knox	130–132
	XXI.	On the Salmonidæ of New Zealand. By James Hector, M.D., F.R.S.	133–136
	XXII.	On a New Species of Fish, Coryphænoides Novæ Zelandiæ; Native name, Okarari. By James Hector	136
	XXIII.	On the Lepidoptera of Otago. By A. Bathgate	137–141

Botany.
	XXIV.	Notes on the Botany of Certain Places in the Waikato District, April and May, 1870. By T. Kirk	142–147
	XXV.	On the Occurrence of Littoral Plants in the Waikato District. By T. Kirk	147–148
	XXVI.	On the Flora of the Isthmus of Auckland and the Takapuna District. By T. Kirk	148–161
	XXVII.	An Account of an Undescribed Pittosporum and Loranthus, in the Herbarium of the Colonial Museum, Wellington. By T. Kirk	161–163
	XXVIII.	Notes on Certain New Zealand Plants not included in the "Handbook of the New Zealand Flora." By T. Kirk	163–166
	XXIX.	On the Botany of the Northern Part of the Province of Auckland. By T. Kirk	166–177
	XXX.	Descriptions of New Plants. By T. Kirk	177–180
	XXXI.	On the Cultivation of some Species of Native Trees and Shrubs. By T. H. Potts and W. Gray	188–202
	XXXII.	On the Natural History Collections in the Otago Museum. By J. S. Webb	203–208
	XXXIII.	On some New Species and Varieties of New Zealand Plants. By John Buchanan, of the Geological Survey Department	208–212
	XXXIV.	On Recent Changes in the Nomenclature of the New Zealand Ferns. By John D. Enys	213
	XXXV.	On some Algae from the Chatham Islands. By Professor J. Agardh, of Lund. Communicated by F. von Mueller, C.M.G., M.D., Ph.D., F.R.S.	213–215

Chemistry.
	XXXVI.	On the Absorption of Silver by Gold, and its Effects in Retarding Amalgamation. By W. Skey, Analyst to the Geological Survey of New Zealand	216–220
	XXXVII.	On the Production of a Mono-hydrate of Chloride of Barium. By W. Skey. With Notes on its Crystallization, by E. H. Davis, F.C.S., F.G.S.	220–221
	XXXVIII.	Researches on the Absorptive Properties of Platinum. By W. Skey	221–222
	XXXIX.	On the Capability of Certain Sulphides to form the Negative Pole of a Galvanic Circuit or Battery. By W. Skey	222–225
	XL.	On the Reduction of Certain Metals from their Solutions by Metallic Sulphides, and the relation of this to the occurrence of such Metals in a Native State. By W. Skey	225–231
	XLI.	On the Electro-motive Power of Metallic Sulphides. By W. Skey	232–236
	XLII.	On Certain Properties of the Tutu Plant (Coriaria ruscifolia). By H. G. Hughes, M.P.S.	237–243

Geology.
	XLIII.	On the Relative Ages of the Waitemata Series and the Brown Coal Series of Drury and Waikato. By Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S.	244–249
	XLIV.	On a Carbonaceous Mineral from Whangarei Harbour. By Captain F. W. Hutton	250–251
	XLV.	On the Artesian Wells near Napier. By Captain F. W. Hutton	251
	XLVI.	On the Occurrence of Native Mercury near Pakaraka, Bay of Islands. By Captain F. W. Hutton	252–253
	XLVII.	On the Physical Geography of the Lake Districts of Otago. By James McKerrow	254–263
	XLVIII.	On the Sand Hills, or Dunes, in the neighbourhood of Dunedin. By P. Thomson	263–269
	XLIX.	On the Disposition of Alluvial Deposits on the Otago Gold Fields. By L. O. Beal	270–278
	L.	Notes on the Geology of White Island. By James Hector, M.D., F.R.S., Director Geological Survey of New Zealand. With Observations on the Crystalline forms of the Specimens of Sulphur obtained. By E. H. Davis, F.G.S., F.C.S., of the Geological Survey Department	278–285
	LI.	On the Nomenclature of Rocks. By E. H. Davis	285–287
	LII.	On a New Form of Iron Pyrites. By E. H. Davis	287
	LIII.	Remarks on the Resemblance of the Country in the neighbourhood of the Dun Mountain, and Wairoa Gorge, to the Mining Districts of Queensland and Auckland. By W. Wells	287–292
	LIV.	Notes on the Thermal Springs, in the Hanmer Plains, Province of Nelson. By Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S. With letter from Dr. Hector to the Superintendent of Nelson on the same subject	293–298

Miscellaneous.
	LV.	On Changes in the Hokitika River. By James Rochfort, C.E.	299–303
	LVI.	On the Gyration of the Wind in New Zealand, with its Characteristics in the various Quarters. By W. S. Hamilton. (Author's Abstract.)	303–306
	LVII.	On Periodic Vertical Oscillations in the Earth's Atmosphere, and the Connection existing between the Fluctuations of Pressure, as indicated by the Barometer, and Changes in the Weather. By H. Skey, Government Meteorological Observer at Dunedin	306–311
	LVIII.	Notes on the Chatham Islands and their Inhabitants. By Gilbert Mair	311–313
	LIX.	On the Analogy between the Maori and Indo-European Languages. By Edwin Fairburn. (Abstract.)	313–315
	LX.	On an Adaptation of Water Power. By J. C. Crawford, F.G.S.	315–316
	LXI.	On the Use of the Semicircular Protractor, with a Description of an Improved Form of that Instrument. By James Stewart, C. E., Assoc. Inst. C.E.	316–318
	LXII.	On the Use of Salt Water in the "Field" Boiler. By James Stewart	318–320
	LXIII.	On a Self-acting Clamp Mountain Wire Tramway. By F. W. Wright, L.M.B. Toronto. (Abstract.)	321–322
	LXIV.	On the Currents, Temperature, and Saltness of the Ocean. By W. B. Bray. (Abstract.)	322–324
	LXV.	Notes on the Conduction of Electricity. By J. Duigan. (Abstract.)	324–325
	LXVI.	Notes on a Paper "On Sinking Funds," read by Captain Hutton before the Auckland Institute, September 7, 1868. (Trans. N. Z. Inst., Vol. ii., p. 236.) By J. S. Webb. (Abstract.)	325
		Errata in Captain Hutton's paper, Vol. ii. of the Transactions	325
	LXVII.	On the Changes effected in the Natural Features of a New Country by the Introduction of Civilized Races, (Part III.) By W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S. (Author's Abstract.)	326–336
	LXVIII.	On the Political Economy of Railways. By H. S. Chapman, One of the Judges of the Supreme Court of New Zealand	337–351

APPENDIX.
Meteorological Statistics of New Zealand for 1870			353–355
List of Earthquakes in New Zealand in 1870			355
Notes on the Weather during 1870			355–357
Lists of Members			358–363

Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute			x
Abstract of Rules and Statutes of the New Zealand Institute			x–xii
List of Incorporated Societies			xiii
List of Office-bearers and Extracts from the Laws of Incorporated Societies			xiii–xvi

ILLUSTRATIONS.

PLATE		PAGE
1.	Buller.—New Zealand Rat	2
2.	New Zealand Lizards (Naultinus, Mocoa, Hinulia)	4
3.	{{{1}}}„ Blight Bird (Zosterops)	16
4.	{{{1}}}„ Huia (Heteralocha)	24
5.	Powell.—Katipo, or Poisonous Spider of New Zealand	56
5b.	Buller.—Weta (Deimacrida)	34
6.	Potts.—Crook-bill (Anarhynchus)	94
7.	{{{1}}}„ Nests of Kaka (Nestor) and Weka (Ocydromus)	86
8.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„ New Zealand Fantail (Rhipidura) and New Zealand Dabchick (Podiceps)	78
9.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„ New Zealand Falcon (Hieracidea)	60
10.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„ Pukeko (Porphyrio)	102
11.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„ New Zealand Robin (Petroica) and New Zealand Canary (Mohoua)	76
12.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„ Blight Bird (Zosterops) and Stitch Bird (Pogonornis)	74
12b.	Buller.—Kiwi (Apteryx)	52
13.	Knox and Hector.—Ziphid Whale	124
14 to 17. {{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„		128
18.	Hector.—New Zealand Fishes (Coryphænoides, Coridodax, and Retropinna)	132
19.	{{{1}}}„ New Zealand Salmonidæ	136
20 to 24. Rochfort.—Plans of Hokitika River		302
25.	Davis.—Sulphur Crystals	284
26.	{{{1}}}„ New form of Iron Pyrites and Chloride of Barium Crystals	220
27.	Hutton.—Geological Sections in Auckland and Hawke's Bay, and Plan of Hot Springs near Bay of Islands	248
28.	Hector.—Sections of White Island	280