Wellington Philo&opliical Society. 659 



was that, as regarJeJ two opposing camps of philosophers, he was not 

 ranged with the materialistic party. As for the so-called " telepathy," he 

 had only casually referred to the theory to remark that it was inadequate. 

 That dreaming was an abnormal or unhealthy condition in itself he 

 could not believe, though there were, of course, the special forms of dreams 

 attending indigestion or fever. The nearest approach to dreamless sleep 

 was that of utter exhaustion, and it was not a desirable condition. He 

 did not think that the brain could be at absolute rest any more than the 

 other great vital organs, and if it was in action there must be some kind 

 of dream. Absolutely dreamless sleep must be much the same as death. 



2. "On a New and Simple Method of projecting Occulta- 

 tions and Solar Eclipses," by T. B. Harding; coaimunicated 

 by E. C. Harding. {Transactions, p. 477.) 



Sir James Hector gave some interesting information on the subject, 

 which he illustrated on the blackboard. He also called attention to the 

 occurrence on the 13th instant of an occultation of the planet Venus. 



Sir James Hector exhibited some specimens he had 

 recently collected at the Cheviot — viz., limestones of good 

 quality, phosphatic nodules useful for manure, hsematite-ore 

 (64 per cent, of iron), and nickel found on the beach. 



Sixth Meeting : 20th September, 1893. 

 Major-General Schaw, President, in the chair. 

 New Members. — Miss Malcolm and Mr. Dawson. 



Papers. — 1. "On Spiders' Bridges, or Spiders as Engi- 

 neers," by Coleman Phillips. (Transactions, jj. 600.) 



2, " On a Common Vital Force : Section I. — Similarity of 

 Construction," by Coleman Phillips. {Transactions, p. 604.) 



General Schaw said it was the universal practice to stay suspension- 

 bridges now. The one over Niagara was an instance of this ; it was stayed 

 in every direction, especially downwards. 



Mr. Hudson said it was not yet known how spiders threw and con- 

 nected the web ; the vision of the spider was supposed to be limited to an 

 inch or so ; butterflies saw a longer distance. He referred to the pro- 

 gressive development and improvement, and instanced the bee in con- 

 nection with this. 



Mr. Maskell did not think a spider could see to throw a web the 

 distance mentioned, nor did he think they deliberately constructed these 

 bridges. What did Mr. Phillips mean by " common vital force " ? He 

 could not agree with Mr. Phillips in thinking there was no difference 

 between the instinct of an animal and the natural intelligence of man. 



Mr. T. W. Kirk had seen such bridges as described by Mr. Phillips ; 

 the stays were sometimes 20ft. 



Mr. Hulke mentioned that a Captain Brown was the first to build a 

 suspension bridge, and took for his model a spider's bridge. 



Mr. Harding could not see how " common vital force " had anything 

 to do with the question. Man would no doubt follow the same course to 

 do a thing that animals did, but the difference was that animals did not 



