178 Transactions. 



observed ; hardness, 5 to 6 ; specific gravity, 3-254: ; moderately fusible m. 

 blowpipe-flame to a shining black magnetic slag with soda reactions. It 

 was powerfully affected by the magnet, but did not exhibit any decided 

 polarity. A little native iron was detected by the sulphate-of-copper test. 

 Treated with warm HCl, a little sulphuretted hydrogen and sulphur were 

 liberated, with a large quantity of silica in a gelatinous form. The total 

 amount of insoluble matters after ignition was 56 per cent, of the original 

 substance, consisting principally of liberated silica ; the rest was undeter- 

 mined siUcates. Among the soluble matters, iron and magnesia predomi- 

 nated ; there was a little soda, manganese, and nickel. Aluminium and 

 chromium were tested, with negative results. The total quantity of iron 

 present was 24-01 per cent. From the preceding facts it may be assumed 

 that this mineral is a mixture of protosulphide of iron with iron chrysolite, 

 with a small amount of insoluble silicates. The presence of native iron 

 and nickel is almost conclusive of its meteoric origin." Mr. Donovan, 

 of Wellington, is at present making a more complete analysis of this 

 stone. 



In 1868* Mr. E. Baker published an account of a brilliant meteor which 

 was seen at Wellington. He says, " At about a quarter after 7 o'clock 

 on the evening of the 5th August ... I observed a light, very much 

 brighter than the moon (which . . . was only two days old), shining 

 brightly in a clear sky. The light appeared to be a large round ball of fire, 

 about the size of the moon, travelling from an easterly direction towards 

 the west. The ball of fire burst, and a portion of it apparently struck the 

 ground at about fifty to a hundred yards from my house at Karori. There 

 was a rumbling noise at the time of the descent of the meteor." Though 

 mention is here made of a portion of the meteor falling to the earth, no 

 stone seems to have been discovered. 



In 1869t the Eev. A. Stock recorded a meteor which was seen at Wel- 

 lington on the 8th November. He describes it in the following words : 

 " It appeared suddenly in the E.S.E., at an altitude of 20°, and fell with a 

 verv rapid motion vertically. When it was fijst seen it appeared about 

 three times as large as Venus, and shone with a yellow light. It suddenly 

 appeared to diminish to a point of light, each diminution being accompanied 

 with a shower of sparks, falling vertically. It suddenly increased to its old 

 brilliancy, as suddenly diminished, then increased. Thus there were three 

 brightnesses and two darker intervals. Another peculiarity was that it 

 showed all the prismatic colours. There was no train of light left after 

 its disappearance." 



The Makarewa Meteorite. 



In 1879 the second stone was unearthed, this time at Makarewa, near 

 Invercargill, in the South Island. 



Professor Ulrich, F.G.S., writing on the find,J: says, " The stone under 

 notice was not seen to fall, but the following description regarding the site 

 of its discovery, its mineral character, and structure can leave no doubt 

 of its being of meteoric origin. Towards the end of the year 1886, when a 

 large party of mining prospectors were preparing, mth Government aid, 

 for departure to the Big Bay district, west coast of Middle Island, Mr. Th. 



* Trans. N.Z. lust., vol. i, p. 39. 



t Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. ii, p. 402. 



± Proc. Roy. See, 1893, vol. liii, p. 54j 



