WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5449, 13 September 1878, Page 7

WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

There was a large attendance at the meeting of the above society held at the Museum on Saturday evening, August 17. The President, Mr. T. Kirk, F.L.S, occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been confirmed,

Tim Secretary announced the election of Mr. W. G. 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 Flouting Dams.”

Mr. Maxwecl said that this plan had been successfully carried out in many places. He did not think there was anything now to engineering in tho paper. Dr. Hector explained that the 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. Bulleb read a paper entitled “Remarks on a species of Lcstris inhabiting our seas,” and exhibited specimens in illustration of it. The paper was of a technical character, and contained come criticisms on Mr. Howard Saunders’ review of the Steroorariinai.

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, aud he expressed a hope that members of the society would never lose an opportunity of securing sqch specimens and forwarding them to the Museum for critical examination. He mentioned another larger species of Lestris known as the sea-hen, of which he obtained some examples in Otago soon after lie came to the colony. The President said that Dr. Buffer'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 New Zealand.” The President rema-ked that persons engaged iu testing the properties of 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. Curl. At the same time lie observed with regret that no mention was made of the condition under which Dr. Curl’s experiments were performed, such as 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 iciunla and A. billardieri. Pea aquatica was merely a synonym for Glyceria aquatics, although the two are given by tho anther as distinct plants. Glyceria Anikins was a grass of undoubted value, as was proved by the condition of horses and cattle feeding upon it, wherever naturalized iu the colony. Referring to Dr. Curl’s use of the term “acclimatised,” ho stated that a fallacy was involved in the popular acceptation of the terra, ns 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 iu mixed solutions of mercuro-iodide of potassum and mercuric-chloride.” 3. “On the Production of one or more Alkaloids by the application of the Auniline process to fixed oils generally.”. 4. “On tho Production of Platiuo-ioclides of the Alkaloids.”

Dr. Duller read a paper “ On a further occurrence of the Australian Tree Swallow (Hylochelidou nigricans) in New Zealand," quoting a letter on the subject from Mr. J. Tl. W, Cook, of Blenheim. He remarked *ou the extraordinary fact of such a bird perfoiraing a journey on the wing of upwards of a thousand miles without a break or rest.

Dr. Hector wished to be informed whether this bird was gregarious iu its native country, aud whether it had come over singly or iq,. flocks 1

Mr. 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. He advocated its introduction and naturalization in tins country. Dr. Duller stated that a flight of these swallows had been seen at Wakapuaka neat Nelson, in 1858, when specimens were obtained by Mr. Lea, one of which is now in the Otago Museum. The President said that he believed the bird was of more frequent occurrence in New Zealand than was commonly supposed, and ho 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, if brought here, it cmld be 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 cinuit. The marvellous transmissions of faint sounds was readily illustrated. The experiment performed was to some ex-tent-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 hoards 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.