666 Proceedings. 



F.E.S. ; Secretary and Treasurer — Mr. K. B. Gore; Auditor — 

 Mr. T. King. 



In proposing the re-election of General Schaw as President, Sir James 

 Hector referred to the valuable service that gentleman had rendered the 

 Society during the past year. He was pleased to see that General Schaw's 

 re-election as President was so warmly agreed to by those present. 



The following papers were read : — 



1. " On New Cyperaceous Plants, or Cutting-grasses," by 

 T. Kirk, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 260.) 



2. " On New Zealand Sonchus, or Sow-thistle," by T. 

 Kirk, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 263.) 



Mr. Tregear said this grass reminded him of the sacrificial knife 

 used by certain natives. It might have been taken as a model by them. 

 The sow-thistle, he remarked, was good for food. 



Mr. Richardson considered that these plants were useful for fixing 

 drifting sands. 



Mr. Hulke thought these sow-thistles should be cultivated, as the root 

 was valuable, and could be much increased in size. 



Mr. Harding thought it more likely that sharks' teeth had suggested 

 the cutting-knives referred to by Mr. Tregear. 



Sir James Hector pointed out how the sow-thistle was being destroyed 

 by the American blight ; the harsh-leaf kind seemed to escape, it was the 

 soft kind that was attacked, and the ground was taken up by a plant that 

 was doing mischief. 



Mr. T. W. Kirk said this insect (the black fly or leaf-mining 

 insect) not only attacked the thistle, but also the Cineraria, as pointed 

 out by Mr. Maskell at a previous meeting. He found arsenic spray a 

 good thing for destroying this blight. 



Mr. T. Kirk said that the aphis only attacked the sow-thistle de- 

 scribed by him periodically. 



3. " The story of Papaitonga, or a Page of Maori History," 

 by Sir W. Buller. {Transactions, p. 572.) 



Mr. Tregear said there were many points of great interest in this 

 paper, especially the building of the island on the lake ; it reminded him 

 of the lake dwellings. 



4. " On a Eemarkable Maori Implement in the Hunterian 

 Musemn at Glasgow," by Sir W. Buller. {Transactiojis, 

 p. 570.) 



5. " On a Curious Maori Flute in the Collection of the late 

 Dr. Shortland," by Sir W. Buller. {Transactions, p. 568.) 



