WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4821, 4 September 1876, Page 3

WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

A meeting of the above society was held in the lecture-hall of the Colonial Museum on Saturday evening, the President, Dr. Duller, C.M.G., in the chair. His Excellency the Governor was present, and there was a numerous attendance of members.

After the minutes of the former meeting had been read and confirmed, the Secretary announced the election of Colonel Leckie as a member of the society. The first paper read was one by Mr. J. Buchanan, F.L.S., “On the Botany of Kawau Island." The author gave a very interesting description of the fauna and flora of Sir George Grey’s island home, and expressed a devout hope that this charming nursery of animals and plants would long escape the destroying band of “ settlement.” He pictured the leading features of the native vegetation, and gave some account of what had been done in tbe way of acclimatisation, concluding with a picturesque description of the island scenery. To the paper was appended a list of indigenous trees and plants found on Kawau Island,but the author considered it unnecessary to read this, as it was intended for publication.

The President commented favorably on this paper, and appealed to the “ monarch ” of this beautiful island, who was present. Sir Georoe Grey said he had listened with very much interest to Mr. Buchanan's treatise, and could add nothing to it. Mr. Kirk praised the paper as a whole, but took exception to certain parts of it. He thought Mr. Buchanan had not dwelt sufficiently on some distinguishing features of the indigenous flora. He instanced the predominance of several flowering plants. Dr. Newman, white bearing testimony to the value of the paper, regretted that the author had not gone more fully into the relations of the trees and plants inhabiting the island with those existing on the main [land. Mere lists of species were quite unintelligible to all but those who had made a special study of botany. The Hon, Mr. Manteed entirely disagreed with the last speaker. He thought that Mr. Buchanan had shown great forbearance in the matter of scientific names, and had only mentioned, in his geneaal description of tho island, those which were familiar to every settler. Mr. Travers regretted that anything should be said calculated to discourage the efforts of those local members who were doing good work in science. He could bear testimony to the value of Mr. Buchanan’s contributions in the department of botany, and with to the annual volume of “ Transactions,” in which these papers appeared,-he would venture to say that the book was always looked forward to with interest by the leading scientific men of Europe, and had by the highest scientific authority been proclaimed one of the very best productions of its kind. We did not pretend to have amongst us such men as Tyndall and Earaday, who could invest with a special charm the driest scientific things, but the work done by more humble laborers in the field of science was not to bo undervalued on that account. After a few observations from the President, Mr. Bdchanan briefly replied, and closed the discussion.

The President said that the next article was, par excellence, the paper of the evening. Mr. Travers, who had just returned from an expedition to the Hot Lakes, had prepared, for tho information of the society, notes of his visit, with “ Remarks on tho Volcanic Phenomena of the Lake District of Auckland.” He had no doubt that the paper would be an extremely interesting one, and would not be wanting in the fascination which generally attached itself to Mr. Travers’ writings. Mr. TRAVERS, who was well received, then read a very full account of his expedition, describing in minute detail many of the wonders of the Lake region, sketching its remarkable scenery, dwelling on its distinctive features, and giving generally a very graphic account of the impressions formed in his own mind by all ho had witnessed and experienced during a six weeks’ trip. He concluded - with some scientific reflections on what he had recorded, referring moro particularly to the volcanic

phenomena of the district. * In -illustration, of the subject, Jie exhibited a Jarge series of beautiful photographs of theiake system, .taken by himself on the spot. These were handed to the Marquis of Normanby, and at the close of the meeting were inspected by the members generally. ~ : .' ;: ' The President said to his mind it was somewhat remarkable that no two accounts of the Lake district he had ever read' or listened to agreed with each other except in their pmm ; features, and this was probably the beat .testimony to the, marvellous variety of natural phenomena presented by this, favored region. Lieutenant Meade had published a charming description of, the geysers, l solfataras, and fumarolea of the Lake country; but this differed entirely from. the account given by Professor Von Hpchstetter at; an earlier :date, and now Mr. Travers had presented the whole thing under a totally different aspect. He. invited further discussion, as there were probably others present who had visited the Hot Lakes. Mr. Mantell agreed with the last speaker, and ascribed this diversity of description to the fact of their being not one but a succession of Lake districts. He had not been to the Hot Lakes himself, and had therefore listened to Mr. Travers with very great interest. He feared, however, that the author of the paper had been adding to the “ hot water” by his attempted explanation of some peculiarites in the Maori carvings rererred to. He believed the carved effigies were intended to be true likenesses ; and nothing was more common than for native visitors to the Maori house attached to the Museum to point to the grotesque figures on the slabs and assure him that they were exact representations of their worthy progenitors. To doubt them would be, in his opinion, as unbecoming and unreasonable as it would be to call - in question the fidelity of the ancient family portraits in any private gallery. (Laughter). ’ Mr. CarrOTHERS referred to the volcanic phenomena described by Mr. Travers, and expressed his opinion that the Government could not make a better investment of a few hundred pounds per annum than by the establishment of an observatory in the very centre of the Lake district.

Dr. Newman followed up the subject of volcanic phenomena, and made some interesting observations. He ascribed the extreme blueness of the lakes, as mentioned by Mr. Travers, to the absolute purity of the water, and to the consequent action of the blue rays of light. The President, said that although there were several other interesting papers on the list, the usual limit assigned to these meetings had been reached, and further business must therefore be postponed. Before the adjournment, however, he was anxious to exhibit a very beautiful form of green lizard (Naultinus), specimens of which had been brought from Nelson by Mr. Arthur Atkinson. Re had intended to describe this new species at this meeting, and to give it a distinctive name, but the paper would have to stand over with the rest. There were several other exhibits! on the table.

The following papers were held over for the next' meeting of the society, to be held on Saturday, the 16th instant : —On the Ornithology of New Zealand (Dr. Buffer); On Probable Reasons why few Eossils are Found in the upper Palaeozoic and possible Triassic rocks of New Z aland (Mr. J. C. Crawford) ; Description of a New Species of Rumex (Mr. Kirk) ; On a few of the Grasses and other Herbage Plants that might be advantageously Introduced into Cultivation in New Zealand (Dr. Curl) ; and Description of a New Species of Gnaphalium, and notices of two other Plants (Mr. Buchanan). ,