486 Proceedings. 



tion in the " Transactions." The writer also pointed out the incongruity 

 sometimes caused by the use of personal surnames as the specific descrip- 

 tion of certain animals of small size, and suggested that proper names 

 should not be used indiscriminately in the naming of new genera and 

 species, but that good reason should be assigned for such use, and the 

 approval of the Governors first obtained ; and he further proposed that 

 the Governors should publish a few elementary rules for the formation of 

 the possessive case when proper names were latinised. 



JMr. Hulke was glad that Mr. Brandon had brought the matter of 

 measurement forward. It was most important that there should be a 

 uniform system, and it ought to be that formerly introduced by the 

 French, but now used in America and all continental States — namely, 

 the metric system. We should teach it in our schools, to prepare for its 

 general use fifty yea.rs hence. 



Captain Hewett agreed that the decimal system should be uniformly 

 adopted. 



The President agreed entirely with the author's views on this 

 subject. He suggested that Mr. Brandon should bring the matter before 

 the Governors of the Institute, in the form of a definite resolution for 

 their consideration. 



The President drew attention to a valuable series of works, giving 

 the latest information on the Hessian fly, which had been presented to 

 the library. 



Third Meeting: 25tli July, 1888. 



W. M. Maskell, F.R.M.S., President, in the chair. 



Neio Member. — T. H. Eobinson. 



Pajyers. — 1. " On the Limestones and other Eocks of the 

 Eimutaka and Tararua Mountains," by A. McKay, F.G.S. 



Abstract. 

 LIr. McKay said that several years ago ]\Ir. J. C. Crawford en- 

 deavoured to draw attention to the existence of valuable building-stones 

 in the immediate vicinity of Wellington ; and he believed that Mr. Craw- 

 ford partly opened up a quarry on his property forming the Miramar Penin- 

 sula. Attention was at the same time drawn to some rocks on the range 

 north-west of tJie Botanic Gardens, which were subsequently examined 

 by Mr. Cox, late Assistant Geologist. All of these rocks proved too hard 

 to dress easily, and they had consequently not come into general use. 

 In the month of October last, the speaker said, samples of a compara- 

 tively soft sandstone were brought to the Colonial Museum from the 

 western slopes of the Tararua Mountains. Shortly afterwards he ex- 

 amined the rocks of the range forming the water-parting between the 

 Ruamahanga and Manawatu basins, with special reference to the occur- 

 rence of limestone five miles south of Eketahuna, and close to the main 

 line of road to Masterton. These limestones formed a bed 10ft. to 12ft. 

 thick, and were sufficiently hard to take a good polish. They varied in 

 colours, being red, green, or grey, and were usually veined with white 

 calc-spar veins ; but, unfortunately, at the outcrop, and apparently 

 throughout, the stone was so much jointed that no blocks more than 2ft. 6in. 

 appeared likely to be obtained. Later in the season, Mr. McKay said, 

 he explored the eastern slopes of the Tararua Ranges between the 

 Waingawa and Tauherenikau Valleys, and along the gorge of the Waio- 

 hine River. A great part of the high vertical walls of rock forming 

 the Waiohine Gorge was formed of calcareous diabasic ash. The rocks 

 appeared to be an altered volcanic ash, and would be very beautiful if 

 cut and polished. In some parts of the Waiohine Gorge the more cal- 



