670 Proceedings. 



Eighth Meeting : 2Srcl October, 1893. 

 Professor F. D. Brown, Vice-president, in the chair. 



Neiv Member.— T. B. Allen, B.Sc. 



Papers. — 1. " Note on the Nesting Habits of the Matuku, 

 or Bittern," by P. E. Cheal :— 



"I forward herewith four eggs of the matuku, or bittern, 

 found in the swamp at Whakahara, Piako. As the nest is 

 seldom seen, I send the following particulars of its discovery : 

 On Wednesday, 30th August, when chaining along the 

 boundary of the Takapau-Pierekau Block, and about one mile 

 and a half west of the Waitoa Eiver, and three miles east of 

 the Piako Eiver, my chainman's son walked a little distance 

 from the party and stumbled over the nest, very nearly falling 

 upon the bittern, which rose and flew away. On examining 

 the nest I was pleased to find five eggs therein. The nest 

 was quite exposed, being situated in a small toetoe tussock 

 not 4in. above the level of the swamp-water. It was composed 

 of a few layers of dry rushes, laid across one another, without 

 any attempt at nest- making. Interspersed with the rushes 

 was some fine down, but whether from the bittern or from 

 some other bird I cannot say." 



2. "Public Ferneries: a Suggestion," by the Kev. P. 

 "Walsh. {Transactimis , p. 619.) 



3. " On the Occurrence of some Bare Minerals in New 

 Zealand," by James Park, F.G.S. {Transactions, p. 365.) 



4. " New Species of Aranece," by A. T. Urquhart. {Trans- 

 actions, p. 204.) 



5. "Notes on the Course of the Waikato Eiver," by L. 

 Cussen. {Transactions, p. 398.) 



Annual General Meeting : '19th Febriianj, 1894. 



Mr. T. Peacock in the chair. 



Absteact of Annual Report. 



The number of membei-s on the roll on the Isfc February, 1894, was 

 177, of whom 13 are life members and 164 ordinary subscribers. The 

 number of new members elected during the year has been unusually 

 small, amounting to six only. Sixteen names have been withdrawn — 

 four from death, five from resignation, and seven from non-payment of 

 subscription for more than two consecutive years. As the number on 

 the 1st February, 1893, was 187, there has been a net decrease of ten 

 during the year. It is the melancholy duty of the Council to notice the 

 decease of Professor C. A. M. Pond, who was elected President of the 



