SEPTEMBER, 1897. 



The monthly meeting of the Royal Society of Tasmania was held at) 

 the Museum on Tuesday, September 14. Sir Lambert Dobson,K.O.M.G. 

 presided. There was a moderate attendance. 



A letter was received through His Excellency the Governor, from 

 the Secretary of State for the Colonies, acknowledging receipt of the 

 Society's address of congratulation to Her Majesty on the occasion of 

 the 60th anniversary of her accession. 



The following letter was read from Mr. Wragge, Government 

 Meteorologist of Queensland : — 



"I beg to call your attention to a letter by me on "High-level 

 Stations," which appears in the Sydney Daily Telegraph of 3rd instant. 

 I have also there reproduced Dr. Buchan's letter to Mr. Kingsmill. 

 You will doubtless be already aware that the Kosciusko Observatory 

 will commence operations on November 1, all the necessary funds 

 having been provided, chiefly by the generosity of the Hon. R. Barr- 

 Smith, of Adelaide, for three months' (at least) tentative experiment. 

 I now do most earnestly beg that your Society will by every means 

 In their power arrange for simultaneous observations during this period 

 on the summit of Mount Wellington, and also at Hobart. The hours 

 of observation will be, as at present arranged, every three hours during 

 the 24, commencing 3 a.m. by automatic instruments, 9 a.m. being the 

 main hour of the period. I am perfectly certain (as far as one can be 

 certain of anything in this world) that the results anticipated by myself 

 when I started the station on Mount Wellington (anticipations most 

 cordially confirmed by Dr. Buchan himself) will be realised in their 

 bearing upon forecasts, and that very important figures will be obtained. 

 It is unnecessary for me to say anything more, but simply to again 

 urge my appeal for assistance in this matter on your Society." 



THE IRON DEPOSITS OF TASMANIA. 



Mr. W. G. Dauncey, C.E., read a paper dealing with the iron 

 deposits of Tasmania. 



BASALT GLASS. 



A paper dealing with a specimen of basalt glass (tachylyte) from near 

 Macquarie Plains, Tasmania, with remarks on the Obsidian buttons, 

 by Mr. T. Stephens, M.A., F.G.S., was read by Mr. L. Rodway. 



A specimen of basalt was exhibited that had been found many years 

 ago. It was excavated from a temporary road cutting on the right 

 bank of the Derwent between Macquarie Plains and Fenton Forest. 



MAORI AND MORIORE CRANIA. 



Mr. W. R. Harper read a paper giving descriptions and measure* 

 ments of some Maori and moriori crania. 



The Chairman, in moving a vote of thanks to those who had pro- 

 mised papers, said that in leference to Mr. Wragge 's suggestion he 

 regretted that the funds of the society would not permit them to da 

 much in the matter. The society, however, favoured the object, and 

 he would suggest that the papers be placed before the Government. 



The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman. 



