734 Proceedings. 



weta's bite, if some enthusiastic votary of science would submit to 

 the infliction, and he commended the subject to the consideration of 

 members. 



2. " On Seasonal Time-adjustment in Countries South of 

 Lat. 30°," by G. V. Hudson, F.E.S. 



Abstract. 



The author proposed to alter the time of the clock at the equinoxes 

 so as to bring the working-hours of the day within the period of daylight, 

 and, by utilising the early morning, so reduce the excessive use of 

 artificial light which at present prevails. 



Mr. Travers said the clocks could be managed by having different 

 hands. He did not think we were far enough advanced to adopt the 

 plan advocated by the author of the paper. 



^Ir. Harding said that the only practical part of Mr. Hudson's paper 

 had long since been anticipated by Benjamin Franklin, one of whose 

 essays denounced the extravagance of making up for lost daylight by 

 artificial light. Mr. Hudson's original suggestions were wholly unscien- 

 tific and impracticable. If he really had found many to support his 

 views, they should unite and agitate for a reform. 



Mr. RIaskell said that the mere calling the hours different would not 

 make any difference in the time. It was out of the question to think of 

 altermg a system that had been in use for thousands of years, and found 

 by experience to be the best. The paper was not practical. 



Mr. Hawthorne did not see any difficulty in carrying out the views 

 advocated so ably by Mr. Hudson. 



Mr. Hustwick was of opinion that the reform spoken of would have 

 to wait a little longer. 



Mr. Ricliardson said that it would be a good thing if the plan could 

 be applied to the young people. 



Sir. Hudson, in reply, said that he was sorry to see the paper treated 

 rather with ridicule. He intended it to be practical. It was approved 

 of by those much in tlie open air. There would be no difficulty in altering 

 the clocks. 



3. Mr. Harding read a short paper entitled " An Ornitho- 

 logical Note." {Transactions, p. 376.) 



]\Ir. Travers said it was like the statement that the kiwi laid one 

 egg which took two years to hatch. He presumed tliat Mr. Harding 

 wished to caution people against such unreliable books. 



Sir W. Bailer said that such blunders ought to be corrected. He 

 had occasion to take a similar course with blunders of leading writers 

 when dealing with New Zealand natural history, such as confounding the 

 kakapo, a nocturnal parrot subsisting entirely on mosses and other vegeta- 

 tion, with the kea, or sheep-killing parrot, from the mountains. It would 

 be a mistake not to correct such statements. It was not surprising to 

 find mistakes of this kind in the class of books referred to, the product of 

 paste-pot and scissors, and got up for a foreign market. 



The President said that it was to such blunders as those pointed out 

 by Mr. Harding that many erroneous views regarding our natural history 

 may be traced. He mentioned several instances. 



4. " Further Notes on DactylaiitJucs taylori," with speci- 

 mens and drawings of the flowers, by T. Kirk, F.L.S. {Trans- 

 actions, p. 496.) 



Sir \V. Buller said it was a curious thing that this plant was so 

 sporadic in its distribution. Witli the exception of the locality mentioned 

 by Mr. Hill, it appeared to exist in single plants distantly scattered over 

 the country. It was first discovered by the Rev. R. Taylor. In his 



