WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5427, 19 August 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

There was a large attendance at the meeting of the above society held at the Museum on Saturday evening. The President, Mr. T. Kirk, F.L.S, occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed, The Secretary announced the election of Mr. W. Cr. Rutherfurd as a member. Dr. Hector then read a paper, by Mr. Macklin, of Blenheim, “ On the Deflection of Shingle-Bearing Currents and Protection of River Banks by Douslin’s Plotting Dams." Mr. Maxwell said that this plan had been successfully carried out in many places. He did not think there was anything new to engineering in the paper. Dr, Hector explained that tbs author did not give this as a new invention, but merely wished to point out how successfully the plan had worked as applied to the Opawa River, in protecting the town of Blenheim. Dr. Duller read a paper entitled “Remarks on a species of Lestris inhabiting our seas," and exhibited specimens in illustration of it. The paper was of a technical character, and contained some criticisms on Mr. Howard Saunders’ review of the Dr. Hector pointed out the difficulty of obtaining many of the oceanic birds, naturalists having to depend on stray specimens cast ashore by the waves or blown inland ,by a storm, and ho expressed a hope that members of the society would never lose an opportunity of securing such • specimens and forwarding them to the Museum for critical examination, lie mentioned another largerspecies of Lestria known as the sea-hen, of which he obtained some examples in Otago soon after he came to the colony. The President said that Dr. Buller’s paper would form a valuable contribution to the “ Transactions." The sealing parties visiting the various islands might be arranged with to collect such specimens. Dr. Hector next read extracts from a paper, by Dr. Curl, entitled “Further Notes on Grasses and Fodders Plants that may be introduced into Now Zealand.”

The President remarked that persons engaged in testing the properties o£ plants adapted for feeding stock in this colony were engaged in work beneficial to the whole community, and therefore he welcomed the paper now contributed by Dr. Onrl. At the same time he observed with regret that no mention was made of the condition under which Dr. Curl's experiments were performed, such ns quality of soil, time requisite for the maturation of the plant, mode in which fed off, and other elements necessary in order to form a correct opinion of the value of each kind. Not more than two or three of the species mentioned in the paper were adapted for mixed pasturage, although most would doubtless be found of value as fodder. He remarked that Agrostris solandri, recommended by Dr. Curl, was a collective species chiefly consisting of two New Zealand grasses, Agrostris rcmula and A. billardieri. Poa aquatioa was merely a synonym for Glyoeria aquatioa, although the two are given by the auther as distinct plants. Glyceria fluitans was a grass of undoubted value, as was proved by the condition of horses and cattle feeding upon it, wherever naturalized in the colony. Referring to Dr. Curl’s use of the term “ acclimatised,” he stated that a fallacy was involved in the popular acceptation of the term, as there was no evidence to show that plants or animals possessed the power of gradual adaptation to peculiarities of climate or soil other than those for which they were originally fitted. This was generally recognised by scientific men, who used the term naturalised instead of acclimatised. Extracts from the following chemical papers, by Mr. Skey, were read by Dr. Hector : 1, “On the presence of one or more hydrocarbons of the Benzol series in our Petroleum and some American Petroleums.” 2. “On a property essential oils possess of determining a light colored precipitate when present in mixed solutions of mercuro-iodide of potassum and mercuric-chloride.” 3.0 n the Production of one or more Alkaloids by the application of the Aunilino process to fixed oils generally.". 4. “ On the Production of Platino-iodidcs of the Alkaloids.” Dr. Bltaer read a paper “ On a further occurrence of the Australian Tree Swallow (Hylochelidon nigricans) in New Zealand,’ quoting a letter on the subject from Mr. J. B. W. Cook, of Blenheim. He remarked on the extraordinary fact of such a bird pevfoiming a journey on the wing of upwards of a thousand miles without a break or rest. Dr. Hector wished to ho informed whether this bird was gregarious iu its native country, and whether it bad come over singly or in flocks ; Hr. Martin Chapman gave some interesting particulars of the breeding habits of the tree swallow, as observed by him in Australia, where it is not gregarious like the sparrow. Ho advocated its introduction and naturalization in this country. Dr. Buli.eu stated that a flight of these swallows had been seen at Wakapuaka near Nelson, iu 1856, when specimens were obtained by Mr. Lea, one of which is now in the Otago Museum. The President said that he believed tho bird was of more frequent occurrence in New Zealand than was commonly supposed, and he mentioned the circumstance of a pair being shot at Auckland some time ago. With regard to the proposed introduction of this swallow, he doubted very much whether, it brought here, it could he induced to remain

with us, the migratory instinct being very powerful. Dr. Hector exhibted a telephone and two forms of the microphone, made by Mr. John Kebbell, and explained the principles of their construction. The microphones were placed on the lecture table, and by wire laid to different parts of the Museum with several telephones in cir aiit. The marvellous transmissions of faint sounds was readily illustrated. The experiment performed was to some extent marred by the extreme sensitiveness of the instruments, as the irregular noises produced by the rustling movements of the audience frequently overpowered the sounds that were intended to be transmitted. The sounds of the voice, of tuning forks, and slight friction of the sounding boards of the microphones • were, however, rendered distinctly audible throughout the complete circuit. A cordial vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Kebbell for his kindness in exhibiting to the society these interesting inventions.