Wellington Philosophical Society. 615 



Mr. Travers said the rich and varied flora was no doubt accounted 

 for by the complicated geological conditions mentioned by Sir J. Hector. 



Mr. Kirk, in reply, said that their chief knowledge regarding the 

 botany of the East Cape was derived from the report of the visit to 

 Tolago Bay by Dr. Solander with Captain Cook. The south limit of the 

 puriri was sixteen miles north of Poverty Bay, where it reaches con- 

 siderable dimensions ; further north the forest was luxuriant, but the 

 timber difficult to get out. In regard to general botany, there was no 

 other locality in New Zealand that formed the meeting-ground of so 

 many species. 



7. " On Volcanic and Seismic Phenomena," by H. C. 

 Field. 



Abstract. 



After the eruption of Ruapehu, in March, 1895, the sulphur stream 

 which formed the higliest source of the Wangaehu River ceased to flow, 

 and the water had apparently, till within the last few days, been always 

 sweet and pure. On the 15th instant large numbers of kahanaenae (New 

 Zealand loach) floated dead in this stream, and others were dying and 

 gasping for breath. The water had also again become turbid and 

 sulphurous. The floating of dead fish continued for several days, and 

 the water was still milky-looking, and smelt of sulphur. No doubt the 

 fish floating down the Wangaehu were thus on their way to the salt water 

 when they were killed by the sulphurous water, and the recent volcanic 

 activity inland had reopened the sulphur spring. 



4. " On the Oxidation of Mercury in Air and Water, and 

 of Iron in Alkaline Solutions," by W. Skey. (Transactions, 

 p. 582.) 



5. " On the Conductivity of certain Substances for Elec- 

 tricity of Low Tension," by W. Skey. {Transactions, p. 581.) 



