WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



Fikst Meeting. Mth June, 1885. 



Dr. Hector in the chair. 



New Members.— Mr. A. Purdie, B.A., and Mr. W. M. Maskell, 

 F.M.S. 



Papers. — 1. "On a remarkable variety of the New Zealand 

 Pigeon, Carpophaga novce-zealandice," by T. W. Kirk. (Trans- 

 actions, p. 129.) 



2. " Abnormal colouring in Platycercus auriceps," by T. W. 

 Kirk. (Transactions, p. 129.) 



3. "New Paper Nautilus, Argonauta bulleri," by T. W. Kirk. 

 (Transactions, p. 138.) 



Specimens Exhibited : — (1) Ancient Maori kite, made of raupo, and ex- 

 hibited by Sir George Grey. (2) Five specimens of Helix hochstetteri, 

 presented by Hon. Captain Baillie, whose property near Picton is almost 

 the only place where that shell is now obtained. (3) Specimen of auriferous 

 Pinolite, a magnesian rock combined with dolomite, presented by G. S. H. 

 Cox, F.G.S. New South Wales. (4) A bonita, a very rare fish in New Zealand, 

 which had been purchased at a fishmonger's shop in Wellington. Dr. Hector 

 took occasion to refer to the reported finding of a turtle in Foveaux Straits, 

 and reminded the meeting ' that a few years ago a turtle came ashore at 

 Island Bay, together with a number of strange fish belonging to the coast 

 of New South Wales, and a mass of kelp. (5) An interesting book, 

 entitled " Cooke's Voyages in the years 1708-11," presented by Mr. Justice 

 Gillies, of Auckland. The book contains numerous plates of birds, beasts, 

 and fishes found in these seas ; and New Zealand is marked on the chart as a 

 nebulous patch. (6) Facsimiles of ancient classics, an Epinal Glossary of 

 Latin and Old English. (7) Geological specimens from the collection of 

 Mr. McKay, made during his recent survey of the Kaikoura mountains. 

 Dr. Hector spoke for some time on the geology of that district, and testified 

 to the valuable nature of the work being done by Mr. McKay. (8) Portrait 

 in oil of Manihera, recently presented to the Government by the relatives 

 of the deceased, and which had been forwarded to the Museum. 



Mr. T. W. Lewis, Under-Secretary for Native Affairs, was present, and 

 gave a short account of Manihera's career, stating that he had been a friend 

 to the settlers from the very early days, and a loyal servant to the Crown. 



Manihera's brother (Hoane Kangitakaiwaho), his son (Robert Hector 

 Manihera) , and his nephew (John Alfred Jury) were present at the meeting, 

 and the latter, who spoke English with an excellent accent, related some 

 episodes from Manihera's life. He stated that Manihera and Wi Kingi 

 opened the land in the Wairarapa to the settlers ; and when Te Hapuku tried 

 to oppose Sir Donald McLean in Hawke's Bay, by refusing to permit the 

 land to be sold, Manihera went up and got Te Hapuku to agree to it. When 

 the Hauhau fanaticism and the King movement spread to the Wairarapa, 

 Manihera used his influence to pacify the Natives with success. 



