590 Proceedings. 



work in almost every branch of natural history ; and they direct that a 

 copy of this resolution be sent to Mrs. Hutton." 



Papers. — 1. " Notes on some South Island Birds and Maori 

 Associations in connection therewith," by James Cowan. 

 (Transactions, p. 337.) 



Captain Gilbert Mair complimented Mr. Cowan on his paper. As to 

 the shining cuckoo (pipiwharauroa), Captain Mair pointed out that al- 

 though, so far as the South Island was concerned, Mr. Cowan might be cor- 

 rect in saying that the bird did not appear until October, it was a mistake 

 to think that the real time of its arrival in the colony was as late as this. 

 As a matter of fact, in some parts of the North Island this yearly visitor 

 appeared about the 21st September. Captain Mair's father, who lived in 

 the Auckland Province from 1818 onwards, used regularly to hear the 

 bird's cry on or about that date. 



2. " The Transformation of Barley into Malt," by Percy 

 B. Phipson. 



With the aid of drawings on the blackboard, and of specimens of the 

 grain, Mr. Phipson gave an explanation of the process of obtaining malt 

 from barley. The exhibits showed the various stages through which 

 the grain passed before it was finally converted into malt. 



Professor T. H. Easterfield and Professor H. B. Kirk spoke highly 

 of the extreme clearness with which Mr. Phipson had set forth a subject 

 which was not always treated very satisfactorily in the text- books. 



3. " Some Historic Maori Personages." by Thomas W. 

 Downes, Wanganui. (Transactions, p. 120.) 



In the discussion on this paper, Captain Gilbert Mair said that he con- 

 sidered that a painting of Te Rauparaha which was executed by the late 

 Mr. C. D. Barraud, of Wellington, in 1845 was the best portrait in exist- 

 ence of that warrior. 



Mr. Hamilton pointed out that the value of Mr. Downes's communi- 

 cation lay in the fact that he had enjoyed the privilege of access to the 

 sketch-books of the late Mr. Gilfillan. As Mr. Downes's photographs 

 had been produced entirely without handwork or retouching of any kind 

 they were to be relied upon as accurate copies of the original sketches. 



4. " Tramdine and Railway Curves," by Miss Maud Rigg, 

 M.A., Jacob Joseph Scholar in the Victoria College, Wellington ; 

 communicated bv Professor R. C. Maclaurin. 



Popular Lecture : 6th December, 1905. 



Mr. Martin Chapman, President, in the chair. 



A lantern lecture on " New Zealand Birds " was delivered 

 by Mr. Edgar F. Stead, of Christchurch. 



The lecture was open to members and their friends, admission (to avoid 

 overcrowding) being by ticket. A full audience was present. 



A large and extremely interesting series of photographs of birds and 

 their nests, from negatives taken from life by Mr. Stead, was shown on the 

 screen, each picture being briefly described by the lecturer. 



On the motion of Professor T. H. Easterfield, seconded by Professor 

 H. B. Kirk, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Stead. 



