Wellington Philosophical Society. 418 



23rd September, 1885. 

 Dr. Newman, President, in the chair. 



New Member. — Eev. E. Durant Cecil. 



Papers. — 1. " On a New Seismograph, or Earthquake Ee- 

 corder," by Mr. F. Bull. (Transactions, p. 69.) 



In concluding his paper, the author said he hoped the instrument 

 would recommend itself to the Meteorological Department for issue to 

 observers. 



Dr. Hector agreed that the instrument was a very useful one, but he 

 hardly thought it combined all that was required for very accurate resnlts, 

 and that Professor Milne had lately invented an instrument which seemed 

 to combine all requirements. 



2. " On the Life History of a Moth, Epyaxa rosearia," by 

 Mr. A. Purdie, M.A. (Transactions, p. 208.) 



3. " On a New Vegetable-eating Pill-millipede, " allied to the 

 Spider and the Crustacea, which he proposed to call Zephronia 

 nova-zealandia, by Mr. T. W. Kirk. (Transactions, p. 139.) 



4. "On the Eclipse of 9th September, 1885. (Transactions, 

 p. 375.) 



21st October, 1885. 



Dr. Newman, President, in the chair. 



Papers. — 1. " On the Maori Language, with Eemarks on 



English Spelling," by Mr. J. C. Crawford. {Transactions, p. 46.) 



The Hon. Mr. Mantell agreed with the author in regard to the spelling 

 and bad pronouncing of the Maori language by the English. 



2. "On the Age of the Napier Limestone," by Mr. A. 

 McKay. (Transactions, p. 367.) 



3. "On a New Mineral, Awaruite,^ by Mr. W. Skey, Colo- 

 nial Analyst. (Transactions, p. 401.) 



4. A large trout, caught by Major Eccles in the Silverstream, 

 was exhibited, and Dr. Hector, after examination, considered it 

 was not a Californian salmon, but the same form of trout which 

 is common in Otago, Canterbury, and Nelson, and that it is 

 probably the progeny of the variety known as " Thames 

 brown trout," which were first introduced into Tasmania, and 

 thence distributed to New Zealand. The fish caught in the 

 Silverstream was a female, with the roe just commencing to 

 develope, and its stomach contained food of fresh-water origin. 

 At first sight it appeared to be very similar to the Californian 

 salmon. 



25th November, 1885. 



Mr. Govett, Vice-President, in the chair. 



New Member. — Mr. G. V. Hudson. 



It was announced that the Ceuncil had nominated Dr. Hutchinson to 

 vote in the election of Governors of the New Zealand Institute, and this was 

 confirmed by the meeting. 



