Wellington Philosophical Society. 613 



A number of these photographs, as well as bromide enlarge- 

 ments, were on exhibition, and were much admired. 



4. Sir J. Hector exhibited a specimen of the very rare 

 metal Osmium-iridium, found at Parapara, Collingwood. 



He stated that the appearance of this metal always indicated coun- 

 try of a very high metallurgic value. Osmium-iridium vyas worth about 

 twice the value of gold ; and another metal, Palladium — traces of which 

 were to be seen in the specimen exhibited — was worth very much more. 

 The only article known which was made of this metal was a small goblet 

 in the Paris mint. The bearings of the standard balances in the mints 

 at Paris and London were also made of this rare metal, at enormous cost. 

 Osmium-iridium was used for the hard tips upon gold nibs, &c. Both 

 these metals were found at Parapara mixed with the gold recovered by 

 the company in that locality. But what this colony should find was 

 Thorium, which used to be worth nearly £40 an ounce, and was now in 

 great demand for making the mantles used over gas-burners. He added 

 that he believed it might perhaps be found in New Zealand. Owing to 

 recent discoveries in Brazil its value was now much reduced. 



5. Sir J. Hector gave a short account of the recent " rain of 

 blood " in Australia, and exhibited a specimen of the red dust 

 collected from vegetation after the sanguinary shower, received 

 from Mr. Krull. 



He said he had examined it and found that it was largely composed 

 of ferruginous clay. It was probably dust swept up into a cloud from the 

 dry parts in the interior of the Australian Continent. When the cloud 

 condensed the red dust came down with the rain. The dust showed evi- 

 dences of containing vegetable matter such as would be likely to form on 

 the surface of dried-up lakes. 



Annual Meeting: 17th February, 1897. 



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



The report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The 

 balance-sheet set forth the receipts for the year (including 

 the balance brought forward, £66 17s. 8d.) to be £171 17s. 8d., 

 the expenditure £90 9s., and the balance £81 8s. 8d., to 

 which has to be added £31 5s. 6d. lodged in the bank at 

 interest as a " Eesearch Fund": making a total credit 

 balance of £112 14s. 2d. 



Office-bearebs. — The four retiring members — viz., the 

 President (Mr. Travers), one Vice-president (Mr. E. G. 

 Harding), and two members of the Council (Mr. Tregear and 

 Major-General Schaw) — were all i-e-elected, as follow ; Mr. 

 E. L. Mestayer being elected in the place of Mr. Farquhar, 

 who resigned. President — W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S. ; Vice- 

 presidents — E. G. Harding, E. Tregear, F.E.G.S. ; Council 

 —Sir W. Buller, K.C.M.G., F.E.S., W. M. Maskell, G. V. 



