Otago Institute. 75 



The lecturer considered that the Wakatipu Valley existed before the glacial period. 

 The ice had, however, probably broadened and deepened it, at the same time rounding 

 the contours of the overhanc;ing mountains. Three powerful dislocations ran parallel 

 with the arms of the lake. The greatest depth in the lake was 1,240 ft., which was 

 240 ft. below sea-level. It was, therefore, not possible that the action of water had 

 dug out that enormous hole. The probability was that faults or dislocations had in 

 part formed the lake-basin, for he thought it was not competent that ice could dig to such 

 a depth. 



In view of all the circumstances, it was almost impossible to give a dogmatic opinion. 

 Perhaps the siniplest solution was to go to the Maoris, who explained the existence of 

 the lake in an interesting way. One legend had it that a Maori wandered among the 

 mountains with a wooden spade in his hand, and wherever he thought a lake should be, 

 there he dug a lake. Another had it that a giant who lived in the mountains came 

 to the coast and abducted a lovely brown maiden, and, taking her to Wakatipu, fastened 

 her to a cabbage-tree. Her father, very wToth, offered the fair one in marriage to the 

 first man brave enoiigh to rescue her from the giant. One young man ventured to 

 Wakatipu, released the maiden, and set fire to the fern, and the sleeping giant was over- 

 come by the fire and smoke, and died. He kicked furiously in his death struggles, and 

 thus tore out of the earth the hole that now holds Lake Wakatipu. 



Third Meeting : Qth July, 1909. 

 Professor Park, President, in the cliair. 



Professor C. Chilton delivered an address on " The Subantarctic Islands." 



He exhibited a series of pictures illustrating the appearance of the land and the 

 general character of the vegetation of the various islands set around the antarctic region 

 — Macquarie, Marion, Kerguelen, South Shetlands, &c. The similarity of the fauna 

 and flora was illustrated by pictures of the more striking allied species found on the 

 different islands. This geographical distribution compelled one to believe that in 

 former times there had been much more extensive land connections between these 

 islands and the neighbouring continents, a conclusion held for some years by many 

 naturali.sts, and now confirmed by the discoveries by recent polar expeditions of numerous 

 additional similarities, and especially by the discovery of land around the Pole by 

 Lieutenant Shackleton's expedition. 



Fourth Meeting : lOth August, 1909. 

 Professor Park,, President, in the chair. 



Neiv Members. — Messrs. F. B. Morris (of Oamaru), E. R. Green, and 

 T. M. GilHes. 



The President made some remarks on several books recently acquired 

 for the Ubrary. 



He especially commented on the valuable and monumental work by Dr. Hocken, 

 " A Bibliography of New Zealand Literature," just issued by the Government Printer. 



Mr. G. M. Thomson stated that the forty-first volume of the Transactions 

 had left his editorial hands a couple of months ago, and would shortly be 

 issued to members direct from the Printing Office. The Second Part of the 

 Proceedings was also due. 



The President announced that a special meeting of members would be 

 held on the 24th August for the reading and discussion of papers by Dr. 

 Marshall and himself on the subject of glaciation in the South Island, arising 

 out of his presidential address. 



Papers.— 1. " Concentration of Ores," by D. B. Waters, A.O.S.M. 



This paper showed first the necessity for concentrating or dressing metallic ores 

 as a preliminary operation to chemical or metallurgical processes. The various principles 

 made use of were outlmed, these being based upon differences in physical properties. 



Proceediu gs — I nset . 



