Wellington PJiilosophical Society. 607 



origin to those who visited the coast for food, and not to those living 

 close by. He mentioned the Digger Indians, and their mode of life. He 

 did not think the writer of the paper wished to introduce the question of 

 the origin of life. 



Mr. Tregear said he hoped the remaining chapters of the paper would 

 be read. It was a useful paper, inasmuch as it might induce others to 

 write on these subjects, and afford further information. There were 

 many things in the paper that he could not agree with, but he considered 

 it most valuable and suggestive. The writer did not, he thought, intend 

 to introduce any question as to the origin of life. 



2. "On Kerns and Serifs" — two old and curious words 

 much used by English printers — by E. Coupland Harding. 

 (Transactions, p. 95.) 



Mr. Tregear said Mr. Harding's paper was most interesting. He 

 quite agreed with him in saying that Mr. Murray, in preparing his new 

 dictionary, had no right to leave O'Ut, as he was doing, certain words 

 which he considered not proper to appear. It quite spoilt the work for 

 the purpose of reference. 



Mr. G. V. Hudson exhibited a splendid set of drawings of 

 New Zealand Leindoptera which he had prepared to illustrate 

 his new work on the subject. The drawings were greatly 

 admired. 



Seventh Meeting : 7tli October, 1896. 



Mr. W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 



Papers. — 1. " Further results, showing that Free Cyanogen 

 does not dissolve or even attack Gold," by W. Skey. {Trans- 

 actions, p. 576.) 



Sir J. Hector said that, for delicate experiments such as these re- 

 searches required, Mr. Skey laboured under great difficulties, as the 

 Laboratory was not properly equipped for such investigations. The con- 

 clusions arrived at were very important. 



General Schaw pointed out that the gold thrown down as described 

 was considered by the author to be in an allotropic state, and its be- 

 haviour with cyanogen might be very difierent from gold in the ordinary 

 state. 



Sir J. Hector said the behaviour of gold finely intermixed with 

 cellulose might be very diSerent from free gold. He would like to hear 

 what Mr. J. S. Maclaurin had to say on that subject, on which he had 

 brought very high chemical training to bear. 



Mr. Travers said the whole matter turned on the employment of the 

 cyanide process for the extraction of ordinary gold. If the gold operated 

 on by Mr. Skey was not in its common form the results would not have 

 a practical bearing. 



2. " Notes on Moa-bones in Gold-drift" (collected by Mr. 

 Lukiu in the Sherry Eiver district, Nelson), by Sir J 

 Hector. 



Sir J. Hector said, from iMr. Lukin's notes it appeared that these bones 

 were found at the base of a Recent river-gravel deposit 20ft. thick resting 



