616 Procecdiiujs. 



sidered that too much time was devoted to useless detail and memory- 

 work, especially in the subject of geography. The address referred to 

 the IMaori collection in the museum, and touched on the subject of why 

 the j\Iaori race was stationary and even retrograde, and attributed it 

 chiefly to their communistic habits. It then referred to some economic 

 matters, such as the conservation of the waste-forest products, to the 

 Tarawera eruption, and to some recent application of science to the arts, 

 particularly to electrical engineering. 



Second Meeting : IGih June, 1890. 



James Stewart, C.E., President, in. the chair. 



Sir W. Eox delivered a popular lecture entitled " Eemiuis- 

 cences of Egypt." 



The lecture was illustrated by numerous water-colour sketches taken 

 by the author during his recent visit to Egypt. A unanimous vote of 

 thanks was passed at the close of the lecture. 



Third Meeting : 30th June, 1S90. 



James Stewart, C.E., President, in the chair. 



Paper. — "Language: or, The Eormation of Words signify- 

 ing Abstract Ideas," by E. D. Eenton. 



EouKTH Meeting: IJ-th July, 1890. 



James Stewart, C.E., President, in the chair. 



Mr. J. A. Pond gave a popular lecture on "The Foods of 

 the Ancient Maori." 



Abstract. 



His remarks were confined to the consideration of the means of sub- 

 sistence that the Maoris possessed prior to the advent of Europeans; 

 and he pointed out that it was a mistake to suppose that in ordinary 

 circumstances they had a deficiency of food. At the same time, food was 

 not so easily obtained as by the more fortunate inhabitants of the Poly- 

 nesian islands. Their cultivations required great care and labour to 

 produce an a,bundant crop, and, although the forests were full of edible 

 rats, birds, &c., the hunters often had to exorcise considerable patience 

 in obtaining their spoil ; while their supply of fish was dexjendent to a 

 large extent on the seasons and weather. The lecturer described in 

 detail the different kinds of food used by the Maoris, and quoted the best 

 authorities to show how they were obtained and prepared. The mode of 

 cultivating the kumara and taro was also fully explained, and some 

 account was given of the many curious legends connected with those 

 plants. 



