Wellington Philosophical Society. 83' 



Third Meeting : 1th July. 1909. 

 Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. 



Exhibits. — ^Dr. A. K. Newman exhibited a rare Maori mat and a bone 

 mere, which he briefly described. 



The President, Mr. A. Hamilton, exhibited a number of paintings of 

 Maori subjects by Major-General Robley and by Dr. Merritt. 



Address. — Mr. Herbert L. James, B.A., gave an address on the subject 

 of " Tolstoi and Otliers on Shakespeare." 



Fourth Meeting : ith August, 1909. 



Mr. A. Hamilton, President, in the chair. 



Neiv Members.— Bi: E. Borghetti, Mr. B. C. Aston, F.C.S., Professor 

 T. H. Laby, Mr. T. S. Lambert, Mr. J. R. Strachan. 



Papers. — 1. '" Notes on the Structure and Habits of a Podm-a and of 

 an Ac-arid, with Descriptions thereof," by J. Bronte Gatenby. 



This paper was illustrated by means of a number of large-scale drawings ui colour, 

 executed by the author. 



Mr. Qatenby was complimented on his paper by Mr. G. V. Hudson, Professor Kii'k, 

 and the Pi'esident, who expressed the hope that it would be followed by other contri- 

 butions from the author. 



2. " An Astronomical Explanation of the Flood of Genesis," by C. W. 

 Adams. 



3. " The Mokoia Aerolite, with a Few Introductory Remarks on New 

 Zealand Meteorites," by George R. Marriner. 



4. " Maori Numeration : being a Reply to Mr. Elsdon Best's Paper on 

 Maori Numeration in the ' Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,' 

 Vol. xxxix," by Hare Hongi. 



5. " On Hongi's Armour," by A. Hamilton. 



6. " Botanical Notes made on a Journey across the Tararuas," bv B. C. 

 Aston. 



The nearest route to the Tararua jMountams from Wellington City is via Kaitoke. 

 The base of the Quoin is reached either by the track thi-ough the Pakuratahi Gorge to the 

 junction of that river with the Hutt River, and thence up the latter to the confluence 

 of it with the Lesser Hutt (nine and a half hours' walk), or preferably along and over the 

 burnt ridge behind Philliits's hut, then down the flank of the spin- to the main Hutt River, 

 and thence down-stream to the confluence (four hours' walk). 



Makhig an early start from Kaitoke, the top of the Quoui (3,900 ft.) could be reached 

 the same night. A well-blazed track has been cut by Mr. Phillips Turner, Mr. A. Jones, 

 and the writer, to a height of 2,300 ft. from Confluence Camp. At 2,200 ft. stagnant 

 water can usually be foinid, but after this there is none luitil the summit is reached, 

 where there is shelter, wood, and water. Wild cattle and pigs are abundant. 



The second day the range is followed over Mount Alpha (4,466 ft.). After getting 

 well up on Moiuit Alpha, water is abiuidant in mountain-tarns until the bush-line on 

 Table Top is reached, after which only temporary ground-water will be found until the 

 W'aiotauro River, a tributary of the Otaki, is reached. The characteristic Tararua 

 alpLne jilants are found from the Quoin upwards. Remarkable "lane formations," 

 ]irobably due to wind-action, and an interestmg " razorback " with two distinct floras 

 on its flanks, either of which is typical to aspect, and alternates from side to side as the 

 ridge zigzags, are met with shortly before reaching the culminating pomt. Mount Hector 

 (.■),016ft.). The descent into the Otaki watershed lies over Mount Dennan and Table 

 Top. The latter can be reached by the second night. 



The third day the descent through the subalpine scrub is ratiier troublesome, but 

 tliis negotiated, a good track leads down to the bed of the Waiotauro River, or the junction 



