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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 224, 22 September 1870, Page 2

At the meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society on Saturday, evening last, Dr. Hector exhibited specimens of the adipocere in different stages of purification, and also a preparation showing a kiwi's egg in utero that had been extracted from the body of a bird that had been recently preseuted to the Museum by Mr. Krull. A paper was read by Mr. Walter Buller, criticising the ornithological portion of the Rev. E. Taylor's recent work on New Zealand. A paper by Mr. T. H. Potts, and Mr. W. Gray, of Canterbury, ou tbe cultivation of native trees and shrubs, was followed hy a paper, also by Mr. Potts, in continuation of his notes on New Zealand birds. Two papers on mineralogical subjects, by Mr. Davis, were followed by an important paper from Mr. Skey, in reading which Dr. Hector gave a short account of the result of the receut investigations at the Thames relative to the loss of gold at the quartz mills. Mr. Skey's chief discovery is that the gold itself is chiefly at fault, and not the quick-silver, as has been supposed, as he finds that sulphur combiuea with pure gold and coats the surface of the grains with a compound that prevents their amalgamating with the mercury. His discovery was illustrated by experiments, whioh were very successful. The reading of several papers had to be deferred owing to the lateness of the hour. New Zealand Flax. — The Canterbury Flax Association offer a prize of £30

for the best dressed bale of flas, and £10 ioK the second best. Each bale must be not les3 than 3 cwt. and competitors must state cost of production, and mode of preparation. There must be three competitors, or no prize will be awarded, and the flax must be exhibited at the Agricultural Society's Show in November next. The successful competitor will be called to produce 5 tons of fibre equal to prize sample, at a cost to be named by himself, but not to exceed £22 per ton baled up for shipment. Ktjmouks have got into circulation within the last few days, that a Maori employed by the Government in a position, to a certain extent, confidential, and where he has had the opportunity of making himself acquainted with the contents of Government papers, has been detected supplying information to the rebels. So far as we uuderstand, the information was not conveyed directly by the party alluded to to any openly hostile tribe, but filtered through a body of natives dwelling at no great distance from the seat of Government, and who wear the appearance, afc least, of friendlies. Enquiries have been made at the instance of the Governmeufc among this body of natives, the result of which, we believe, is that the charge is established. It is bad enough to pufc Maoris into the House for no earthly purpose but to spend public money and interrupt public business, but employing them in situations where they have the opportunity of acquiring intelligence which they transmit to our enemies is worse than foolish ; it is criminal. — PPost. Definition. — Life*; A farce to the rich ; a comedy to the wise ; a tragedy to the poor. For remainder qf News see] Fourth page