612 Proceedings. 



Ninth Meeting : 20th January, 1897. 



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



It was notified that Major-General Schaw, C.B., E.E., a- 

 member of the Society, had been elected a Governor of the 

 New Zealand Institute for the current year, and that Pro- 

 fessor Horatio Hale, of Ontario* (nominated by the Society), 

 together with Mr. Eichard Lydekker, of the British Museum, 

 had been elected honorary members of the New Zealand 

 Institute. 



Papers. — 1. " On some Tick-parasites of the Kiwi," by 

 W. M. Maskell. {Transactions, p. 290.) 



In answer to questions, the author stated that the genus of ticks 

 ■which in other countries infested animals, as in Queensland and else- 

 where, affected birds in New Zealand. There was, he thought, a chance 

 of these ticks going on to cattle in this country. He did not think the 

 Queensland tick would come here, as it seemed only to thrive in the 

 tropics. The difference between ticks and insects was that the insect 

 had six legs while the tick had eight. 



Sir James Hector pointed out the importance of such a paper as that 

 read, which was one of the first attempts to deal scientifically with the 

 tick-pest. 



The President also referred to the value of the investigations by Mr. 

 Maskell. 



2. "Further Notes on Coccids, with Description of New 

 Species," by W. M. Maskell. {Transactions, p. 293.) 



The President said it was gratifying to know that Mr. Maskell was 

 still investigating these injurious insects ; the work was most valuable, 

 and entailed a great deal of labour and close application. 



3. Sir James Hector brought before the Society the neces- 

 sity of the preservation of ancient Maori records. 



He said the rapid extinction of Maori customs, and the consequent 

 loss to the scientific world of much information in an interesting branch 

 of study, had rendered necessary prompt action on the part of the New 

 Zealand Institute in order to preserve records of the unique characteris- 

 tics of the race. The first step in this direction would be the publication 

 of a valuable illustrated work upon Maori art, the first number of which 

 was expected to be ready within a fortnight. He showed an advance 

 copy of the first part of the five which would make up the volume. The 

 first portion was devoted to Maori canoes, and was illustrated with excel- 

 lently-taken and reproduced photographs of the carvings upon the Maori 

 war-vessels. The other four parts would deal respectively with Maori 

 habitations, weapons, ornaments, and dress. The work was being under- 

 taken by Mr. Augustus Hamilton, Begistrar of the Otago University, and 

 arrangements had been made for Mr. Hamilton to go through all the 

 Maori country and obtain the best photographs possible. The Institute 

 had arranged for a complete collection of photographs and negatives of 

 Maori art-workmanship. 



• Unfortunately, news has been received that Professor Hale had 

 actually died before the election was made, and it was, consequently, 

 void ; and Professor Langley has been elected instead. 



