Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute/Volume 6

TRANSACTIONS

AND

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE,

1873.

VOL. VI.

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

BY

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

Issued June, 1874.

WELLINGTON:
JAMES HUGHES, PRINTER, LAMBTON QUAY

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

CONTENTS.

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TRANSACTIONS.

I.—Miscellaneous.
			PAGES
Art.	I.	On the Variation of the Declination of the Magnetic Needle in the Southern Portion of the Middle Island, and Remarks on the Desirability of establishing Magnetic Observatories in New Zealand. By A. H. Ross	3–9
	II.	On Observed Irregularities in the Action of the Compass in Iron Steam Vessels. By A. H. Ross	10–14
	III.	Description of the Patent Slip at Evans Bay, Wellington, and of the Mode of Erecting or Constructing the same. By J. Rees George, C.E.	14–25
	IV.	On a Smokeless and Self-feeding Furnace for Lignites and other Fuels, and the Utilization of the Waste Heat. By H. Skey	25–32
	V.	On the Most Economic Mode of Felting Steam Boilers. By J. C. Firth	32–34
	VI.	On the Probability of a Water Supply being obtained for the City of Auckland from Mount Eden. By John Goodall, C.E.	35–40
	VII.	Notes on the Proposition to supply Auckland with Water from Mount Eden. By James Stewart, C.E.	40–42
	VIII.	On the Reclamation of Sand Wastes on the Coast, and the Prevention of their Inland Advance. By James Stewart, C.E.	42–45
	IX.	Notes on the Plants best adapted for the Reclamation of Sand Wastes. By T. Kirk, F.L.S.	45–54
	X.	Notes on Indigenous Materials for the Manufacture of Paper. By T. Kirk, F.L.S.	55–57
	XI.	On the Prediction of Occultations of Stars by the Moon. By T. Heale	57–61
II.—Zoology.
	XII.	On Harpagornis, an Extinct Genus of Gigantic Raptorial Birds of New Zealand. By Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S., Director of the Canterbury Museum	62–75
	XIII.	On Cnemiornis calcitrans, Owen, showing its Affinity to the Lamellirostrate Natatores. By James Hector, M.D., F.R.S.	76–84
	XIV.	Notes on Delphinus forsteri. By James Hector, M.D., F.R.S.	85
	XV.	Notes of a Variation in the Dentition of Mesoplodon hectori, Gray. By James Hector, M.D., F.R.S.	86–87
	XVI.	List of Seals, Whales, and Dolphins of New Zealand. By J. E. Gray, Ph.D., F.R.S., Hon. Mem. N.Z. Inst.	87–89
	XVII.	Notice of the Skeleton of the New Zealand Right Whale (Macleayius australiensis). By J. E. Gray, Ph.D., F.R.S.	90–92
	XVIII.	Notes on Dr. Hector's Paper on the Whales and Dolphins of the New Zealand Seas. By J. E. Gray, Ph.D., F.R.S.	93–97
	XIX.	On the Occurrence of a New Species of Euphysetes (E. pottsii), a remarkably small Catodent Whale, on the Coast of New Zealand. By Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S.	97–102
	XX.	On Cheimarrichthys fosteri, a New Genus belonging to the New Zealand Freshwater Fishes. By Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S.	103–104
	XXI.	Notes on some New Zealand Fishes. By Captain F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S.	104–107
	XXII.	Notice of Motella novæ-zealandiæ, n.s. By James Hector, M.D., F.R.S.	107–108
	XXIII.	On a New Genus of Rallidæ. By Captain F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S.	108–110
	XXIV.	Notes on the New Zealand Woodhens (Oeydromus). By Captain F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S.	110–112
	XXV.	Notes on the Ornithology of New Zealand. By Walter L. Buller, D.Sc., F.L.S., etc.	112–118
	XXVI.	Notes on the Little Bittern of New Zealand (Ardetta maculata). By Walter L. Buller, D.Sc., F.L.S.	119–121
	XXVII.	Note on Platycercus unicolor in the British Museum. By Walter L. Buller, D.Sc,, F.L.S.	121–123
	XXVIII.	Remarks on Captain Hutton's Notes on Certain Species of New Zealand Birds. By Walter L. Buller, D.Sc., F.L.S.	123–126
	XXIX.	Notes by Captain Hutton on Dr. Buller's "Birds of New Zealand," with the Author's Replies thereto	126–133
	XXX.	On the Birds of New Zealand (Part IV.) By T. H. Potts, F.L.S.	139–153
	XXXI.	Note on the Occurrence of Dernestes lardarius and Phoracantha recurva in Canterbury, New Zealand. By C. M. Wakefield	153–154
	XXXII.	Notes upon certain recently-deseribed New Genera and Species of Coleoptera from Canterbury, New Zealand. By C. M. Wakefield	155–157
	XXXIII.	List of the Insects recorded as haying been found in New Zealand previous to the Year 1870. By Captain F. W, Hutton, C.M.Z.S.	158–171
	XXXIV.	List of the Lepidoptera recorded as haviug been found in New Zealand previous to the Year 1871. By R. W. Fereday, C.M.E.S.L.	171–182
	XXXV.	Observations on the Occurrence of a Butterfly, new to New Zealand, of the Genus Danais. By R. W. Fereday	183–186
	XXXVI.	An Introduction to the Study and Collection of the Araneidea in New Zealand, with a Description and Figures of Cambridqea fasciata, L. Koch, from Chatham Island; and also of a New Species of Macrothete, Auss., M. Huttonii, Cambr., found at Wellington, New Zealand. By the Rev. O. P. Cambridge, M.A. C.M.Z.S.	187–207
III.—Botany.
	XXXVII.	List of the Algæ of the Chatham Islands, collected by H. H. Travers, Esq., and examined by Professor John Agardh, of Lund. Communicated by Baron Ferd. von Mueller, C.M.G., M.D., F.R.S., Hon, Mem, N.Z. Inst.	208–210
	XXXVIII.	Notes on the Flora of the Province of Wellington, with a List of Plants collected therein. By John Buchanan, of the Geological Survey of New Zealand	210–235
	XXXIX.	Descriptions of some New Zealand Lichens, collected by John Buchanan in the Province of Wellington. By James Stirton M.D., Glasgow. Communicated by John Buchanan	235–241
	XL.	On some New Species of New Zealand Plants. By John Buchanan	241–244
	XLI.	Notice of an Undescribed Species of Cordyline. By Thomas Kirk, F.L.S.	244–246
	XLII.	On the New Zealand Forms of Cheilanthes. By T. Kirk, F.L.S.	247–248
	XLIII.	On the Spread of Cassinia leptophylla. By W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S.	248–251
IV.—Chemistry.
	XLIV.	Notes upon the Mineral Oils of New Zealand. By William Skey, Analyst to the Geological Survey of New Zealand	252–259
	XLV.	Further Report on the Chemistry of Phormium tenax. By Arthur Herbert Church, M.A.Oxon., Professor of Chemistry in the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, England	260–271
V.—Geology.
	XLVI.	On the Geological Structure of the Thames Gold Fields. By Capt. F. W. Hutton, F.G.S.	272–283
	XLVII.	On the Formation of Mountains; a Reply to the Rev. O. Fisher. By Capt. F. W. Hutton, F.G.S.	284–290
	XLVIII.	Port Nicholson an Ancient Fresh-water Lake. By J. C. Crawford, F.G.S.	290–294
	XLLX.	Notes on the Glacial Period. By A. D. Dobson, C.E.	294–297
	L.	On the Extinct Glaciers of the Middle Island of New Zealand. By W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S.	297–309
	LI.	On the Glacial Action and Terrace Formations of South New Zealand. By J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S.	309–332
	LII.	On the Fossil Reptilia of New Zealand. By James Hector, M.D., F.R.S., Director of the Geological Suvey of New Zealand	333–358
	LIII.	On the Teeth of the Leiodon. By Charles Knight, F.R.C.S.	358–363

PROCEEDINGS.

WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.
Anniversary Address of the President, Dr. Hector, F.R.S.	367–376
On the Occurrence of Selenium and Tellurium in the Neighbourhood of Wellington. By W. S. Hamilton	376
Notes on the Fixing of Sand-hills. By Wiliam Keene. Communicated by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S.	376–377
Notes respecting the recent Change in the Apex of Mount Cook. By Edmund Barff	379–380
Notes respecting a Hot Spring in the Bed of the Wataroa River, Westland. By W. H. Ralph	380
Notice of the Occurrence of a Red Spider among the Fruit Trees in the South, and the Disappearance of the Blight. By James Morton	380–381
Suggestions for the Conversion of Sawdust into Fuel. Communicated by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S.	381–382
On a new Lepyrodia. By Baron F. v. Mueller, C.M.G., M.D., F.R.S., Hon. Mem. N.Z. Inst.	384
Notes of a Visit to White Island, in the course of a Trip made in H.M.S. "Basilisk." By the Rev. William Sewell, M.A.	386–387
Notes respecting the Moa Cave at Earnscleugh, Otago. By T. H. Cockburn Hood, F.G.S.	387–388
Notes on Sporadanthus, a new Genus of Plants from the Chatham Islands. By Baron F. v. Mueller, C.M.G., M.D., F.R.S., Hon. Mem. N.Z. Inst.	389
Abstract Report of Council	389–390
Election of Officers for 1874	390
On the Durability of New Zealand Timber, with Suggestions for its Preservation. By John Buchanan	390–391
On Solar and Terrestrial Radiation. By C. Rous Marten, F.M.S.	391–392
AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.
Abstract Report of the Council	393
Election of Officers for 1873	393
Anniversary Address of the President, His Honour T. B. Gillies	394–399
Report on, and Analysis of, the Water with which it is proposed to Supply Shortland and Grahamstown. From the Colonial Laboratory. Communicated by His Honour the Superintendent	399
Remarks on Dr. Bastian's recent Work on the Beginnings of Life. By T. Heale	400–401
On Cosmography. By J. Leith	401
On Induction and the Necessary Truth. By the Rev. R. Kidd, LL.D.	402
Remarks on Mr. Leith's Paper on Cosmography. By T. Heale	402
Report on Samples of Stone from the Tokatea Tunnel. By Dr. Hector, F.R.S. Communicated by His Honour the Superintendent	402–404
Abstract Report of the Council	405–406
Election of Officers for 1874	406
PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTERBURY.
Anniversary Address of the President, Henry J. Tancred	407–415
On the Desirability of dedicating to the People of New Zealand small Areas of Ground, assimilating to the Village Greens of England. By F. E. Wright	415–416
Résumé of the Characters of the Family Epeiridæ. By Ll. Powell, M.D.	417
Note upon recently-described New Zealand Coleoptera. By C. M. Wakefield	417
Further Notes on recently-described New Zealand Coleoptera. By C. M. Wakefield	418
Abstract Report of the Council	418
Election of Officers for 1874	419
Exhibition of a Skeleton of Aptornis by Dr. Haast	419
Anniversary Address of the President, Julius Haast, Ph.D., F.R.S.	419–432
OTAGO INSTITUTE.
Remarks on the Whale Fishery in the South Seas	433
A Visit to Sandymount District, Otago Peninsula, and a brief Description of some of its more prominent Natural Features. By Peter Thomson	434–435
On the Skull of a Grampus killed by the Maoris at the Heads. By A. C. Purdie	435–436
Salmon Acclimatization in New Zealand. By W. Lauder Lindsay, M.D., F.R.S.E., Hon. Mem. N.Z. Inst.	436–438
Election of Officers for 1874	439–440
On the Mythology and Traditions of the Maori in New Zealand. By the Rev. F. H. Wohlers	440
Anniversary Address of the President, J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S.	440–446
Maori Traditions in the Native Language. By the Rev. F. H. Wohlers	446
On some Naturalized Plants of Otago. By G. M. Thomson	446–447
Remarks on Hepaticæ collected by Captain Hutton and Mr. Kirk. By Dr. S. Berggren	447
Note on a Sea Trout caught in Otago Harbour. By Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S.	447
NELSON ASSOCIATION.
Election of Officers for 1874	449
Note on a Green and Brown Spotted Lizard. By T. Mackay	449
NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE.
Fifth Annual Report by the Board of Governors	451–453
Accounts of the New Zealand Institute	453
Address to His Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.	453–454
Reply to Address	454

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APPENDIX.

	PAGES
Meteorological Statistics of New Zealand for 1873	xix–xxi
Earthquakes reported in New Zealand during 1873	xxi
Comparative Abstract for 1873 and Previous Years	xxii
Notes on the Weather during 1873	xxiii–xxiv
Philological Considerations on the Whence of the Maori. By J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S.	xxv–lxv
On the Botany of Tahiti. (Author unknown.) Communicated by the Hon. W. B. D. Mantell, F.G.S.	lxvi–lxxx
Abstract of Lecture on New Guinea. By Captain Moresby, R.N., of H.M.S. "Basilisk"	lxxxi–lxxxix
A Catalogue of the Neuropterous Insects of New Zealand; with Notes and Descriptions of new Forms. By Robert McLachlan, F.L.S. (Reprinted from Ann. aud Mag. N. H., July, 1873, p. 30 et seq.)	xc–xcix
Honorary Members of the New Zealand Institute	c
Ordinary Members	c–cvi
Errata et Addenda	iii
Contents	v–ix
List of Plates	x
Board of Governors of the New Zealand Institute	xi
Abstracts of Rules and Statutes of the New Zealand Institute	xi–xiii
List of Incorporated Societies	xiv
Officers of Incorporated Societies and Extracts from the Rules	xiv–xvi

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ILLUSTRATIONS.

		TO FACE PAGE
I.	J. T. Thomson,—Rainitsoutsoraka	xxxvi
II.	{{{1}}}„Map illustrating "Whence of the Maori"	xxx
III.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	lviii
IV.	George.—Wellington Patent Slip	16
V.	Firth.—Boiler Felting H. Skey.—Smokeless Furnace	32
VI.	Cambridge.—Macrothele huttonii, Cambridgea fasciata	204
VII.	Haast.—Harpagornis moorei	64
VIII.	{{{1}}}„ Harpagornis assimilis	68
IX.	{{{1}}}„ Harpagornis moorei	72
X.	Hector.—Cnemiomis calcitrans	76
XI.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	78
XII.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	80
XIII.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	84
XIV.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	80
XIV.A.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	82
XV.	Haast.—Euphysetes pottsii	98
XV.A.	Hector.—Mesoplodon hectori	86
XVI.	Gray.—Macleayius australiensis	90
XVII.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	90
XVIII.	Haast.—Cheimarrichthys fosteri Hector.—Motella novæ-zealandiæ Hutton.—Lotella rhacinus, Gasterochisma melampus, Odax vittatus	104
XIX.	{{{1}}}„ Leptoscopus macropygus, Leptoscopus angusticeps, Rhombosolea tapirina	104
XX.	{{{1}}}„ Cabalus (Rallus) modestus	108
XXI.	Buller.—Ardetta maculata	120
XXII.	Buchanan.—Senecio robusta, Rubus parva	240
XXIII.	{{{1}}}„ Senecio hectori	244
XXIV.	Knight.—Leiodon haumuriensis	360
XV.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	360
XXVI.	{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„	362
XXVII.	Hector.—Plesiosaurus australis, Polycotylus tenuis	338
XXVIII.	{{{1}}}„ Plesiosaurus crassicostatus, Plesiosaurus hoodii	344
XXIX.	{{{1}}}„ Mauisaurus haastii	348
XXX.	{{{1}}}„ Leiodon haumuriensis	352
XXXI.	{{{1}}}„ Taniwhasaurus oweni	354

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ERRATA ET ADDENDA.

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PAGE
64,	in the table under Aquila audax, for 8.20 read 8.02
64,	{{{1}}}„ {{{1}}}„ {{{1}}}„ {{{1}}}„ and p. 65, line 9, for 22.03 read 21.85
66,	{{{1}}}„ 8 from bottom, for proximal read procnemial.
69,	{{{1}}}„ 4, for ridges read calcaneal ridges.
70,	{{{1}}}„ 3 from bottom, for shorter read stouter.
75,	in the table, for Metatarsus read Fibula, and insert " 5–6. Metatarsus of H. moorei."
76,	{{{1}}}„ {{{1}}}„ transpose Weight and Bulk.
85,	line 14, for curved read convex.
130,	{{{1}}}„ 13 from bottom, add "He has since repeated this error in bis 'Catalogue,' by stating (p. 11) that Certhiparus novæ-zealandiæ inhabits both islands."
183,	{{{1}}}„ 3, for January, 1874, read July, 1873.
319,	{{{1}}}„ 22, for 6,000 read 1,000.
320,	{{{1}}}„ 15, for Reid's read Roses'.
323,	in the second table, for Liang read Leaning.
331,	line 14, for of read by.
334,	{{{1}}}„22, for Liodon read Leiodon; also on pp. 336, 338.
350,	for Mauisaurus latibrachialis read M. brachiolatus.
385,	line 13 from bottom, omit the second "by."
xxxvii.,	in the table, line 8, for the first "munga" read manga; for the second read mangu.
xliii.,	line 19 from bottom, omit Mu.
xliii.,	{{{1}}}„10 {{{1}}}„{{{1}}}„ under Kau add Mu.
lii.,	{{{1}}}„32, for dun read dan.
liv.,	{{{1}}}„12, or of read on.
lv.,	{{{1}}}„8 from bottom, for ubah read uba.
lvi.,	{{{1}}}„12 and 19, for Crawford read Crawfurd.
lxi.,	{{{1}}}„26, for karana read karaua.
lxvi.,	{{{1}}}„5 from bottom, for Garlandinea read Guillanina.
lxxiii.,	{{{1}}}„12 for oullana read orellana.

ERRATA.

The "Minimum Temperature on Grass," or terrestrial radiation readings for Bealey, which appear in Table VI. of the Reports on the Climate of New Zealand, published in Vols. V., VI., and the present Vol. (VII.), are unreliable, owing to errors in the instrument.