78 Proceedings. 



arising during or after consolidation, the origin of the rock- variations and " basic secre- 

 tions," whether by pure differentiation or differentiation combined with absorption, 

 are a few of the problems presented for solution. 



The last rock is an isolated beach-i)ebbW ^picked up at Waikawa, and possesses 

 interest as being a type not hitherto recorded in New Zealand. The otherjbeach-pebbles 

 consist mainly of microgranites derived from the Triassic conglomerates ; but from its 

 soft nature it is more probable that this rock has come from a neighbouring intnision. 

 It shows a rich mineralogical association, consistii^g of amphiboles, biotite, muscovite, 

 olinozoisite, epidote, two varieties of,^chlorite, talc, magnetite, and pyiite, but horn- 

 blende is so abundant as to render the designation " lustre-mottled^hornblende rook " 

 applicable. 



2. " On a Method of introducing the Decimal System in British Weights, 

 Measures, and Volumes," by Henry Skey. 



Weights. — The pound is the unit, placed in the middle of a symmetrical syst«m or 

 scale, and the numerical method of counting is proposed up to 10,000, and the division 

 of the pomid into 10,000 new grains called minis. Thus : — 



10,000 minis = 1 pound. 

 10,000 pounds = 1 myriapound. 



Measures. — This deals with the advantages to be derived from employing a unit 

 of 10 inches, making a new foot, or ped, for the centre of the system, counting its mul- 

 tiples up to 10,000, and the divisions of it into 10,000 jjarts called minipeds. Thus : — 



10,000 minipeds = 1 ped. 

 10,000 peds J|||= 1 myriaped.| 



Volumes. — A new measure, whichjuay^be calledj^a vol, is made the centre, it^being 

 the tenth part of a gallon, counting it up to 10,000^; the vol itself being divided into 

 10,000 parts called minims, thus showing the advantages to be derived from dividing 

 the pound weight into 10,000 7ninis, for the weights and volumes for water can^be 

 made identical throughout, and can thus check each other. Thus : — 



10,000 minims = 1 vol. 

 10,000 vols = 1 myriavol. 



The weights, measures, and volumes are thus all showl^ to be connected and inter, 

 calculable. 



These papers form a continuation of a former paper on the currency. 



3. " Some Notes on the Glaciation of Wakatipu Region," by Professor 

 James Park, F.G.S. ■ J j J 



This paper traversed Dr. Marshall's views asjto the^ncient glaciation of Otago. 

 The author believed that the glacial epoch consists of two phases, the first being the 

 period of maximum refrigeration, when the greater portion of the South Island was 

 covered with an ice-sheet, and the second the period of valley-glaciation. He contended 

 that the surface-features everywhere showed two generations of erosion — namely, the 

 glacial, distinguislied by smooth, flowing contours ; and the fluviatile, impressed on the 

 former, and often obliteratmg it. Domed hills, truncated spurs, and glacial shelves 

 were to be seen in many places along the east coast of Otago ; and added to these there 

 was the Taieri moraine, over twenty miles long, three miles wide, with a thickness 

 exceeding 1,000 ft. It was the greatest accumulation of morainic material in New Zea- 

 land, and, when considered in coujiuiction with the glacial surfaces, must be taken as 

 conclusive proof that the Otago ice-sheet reached the present coast-line. The author 

 contended that, judged by the criteria of glaciation formulated by Dr. Marshall, no 

 ice-sheet ever crejit over Scotland. No terminal moraine, for example, marked the 

 southern limit of the ice-sheet in England. Chamberlain, Garwood, and others had 

 shown that the differential movement of the layers of a glacier were due to thrust, dis- 

 proving Dr. Marshall's contention that ice was incapable of i)roducmg thrust. The 

 Hector mountains showed ice erosion up to 6,500 ft., and Ben More was terraced to 

 nearly the summit, 6,000 ft. high. The author considered his estimate of 7,490 ft. thick 

 a conservative one. Taking the mean gradient of the Greenland ice-sheet, the Wakatipu 

 ice-sheet must have reached the east coast. 



