Wellington Philosophical Society. 527 



2. "On Adjustment of Triangulation by Least Squares,"" 

 pt. ii., by C. E. Adams, B.Sc. 



3. " Notes on Southern Lepidoptera," by Alfred Philpott. 



4. " Molecular Association and the Arrangement of Atoms- 

 in Space," by C. W. Robertson. 



Exhibits. — 1. Corean duck. 



2. Nails found in gizzard of duck. 



3. Cast of diorite tnere (original stolen from Maori House 

 on the 12ih September, 1903). 



•i. Rabbit with peculiar growth of teeth. 



5. Green linnets (male and female). 



6. New Zealand tree-lizard. 



7. Petrological microscope (Mr. Adams). 



Sixth Meeting : 4th November, 1903. 



The President, Professor Basterfield, in the chair. 



Papers. — 1. "Notes on some Curiously Carved Maori 

 Calabashes," by Dr. Newman (with exhibits). 



The exhibits consisted of two fine specimens of calabashes recently 

 acquired by the writer, one, unfortunately, broken in transit from the 

 Wairarapa district. Apart from their unusual size, they were remarkable 

 on account of their being fitted with elaborately decorated collars or 

 necks, carved out of matai wood. As their use was for the preservation of 

 birds, &c., in their own fat, they were very greasy, within and without. 

 The larger, when filled, would weigh nearly a hundredweight. Each 

 was fully equipped with the original kete (called " kit " by the pakeha), 

 an open net of phormium leaves gathered into a handle above for con- 

 venience of carriage. 



Dr. Newman explained the use of the hue, or calabash gourd, among 

 the old natives. Some with carved collars were still to be found in the 

 Urewera country, but were rare and highly prized. These particular 

 specimens had been found in an outhouse in the Wairarapa district, 

 the modern native in contact with civilisation preferring kerosene-tins. 

 The Maori owner said they had belonged to his grandfather, a chief, 

 whom he remembered as nearly a century old. All the Museum speci- 

 mens appeared to have lost the carved collar. It was called by the 

 Maoris tnki or kohamohamo. The words might be synonymous, or might 

 refer to difTerent varieties ; they were not in existing dictionaries. Cala- 

 bashes had been much neglected by collectors. Tliose now before the 

 meeting were used only by chiefs, and formed the central object at 

 feasts, containing, as they did, tbe choicest delicacies for the invited 

 guests. The Maoris said they had brought the seed of the calabash 

 from "Hawaiki," and that no such large gourds as those of olden time 

 could now be grown. 



The President and other members expressed their indebtedness to 

 Dr. Newman for his paper, and he, in the course of his reply, added fur- 

 ther information on the subject. 



2. "Notes on Aconitic Acid," by James Bee; communi- 

 cated by Professor Basterfield. 



