Pro ceedings . 275 



coiisideis identical with that of the Kauri pine (Dammara Australis). 

 A note from Mr. Lynd, and the following letter* of the Rev. A. G. 

 Purchas on this subject, published in the Neiv Zealander newspaper 

 of the 23rd February last, were read. 



The Secretary read extracts from an article taken from the 

 Edinburgh New Philosophical Journal for July, 1849, transmitted by 

 D.A.C.G. Mitchell, on the occurrence of a peculiar manna in large 

 quantities upon a scrubby variety of gum-tree (Eucalyptus Dumosa) 

 at Port Phillip, known to the aborigines there under the name Lerp 

 or Laap, and used by them as an article of food. 



Mr. Milligau placed before the meeting leaves recently taken from 

 a gum-tree near Oyster Cove, thickly covered with the little white 

 patella-like forms characteristic of this substance. 



The lately-invented harpoon gun, of which two specimens have 

 been imported by Messrs. Nathan and Moses, of this city, was 

 exhibited. 



The thanks of the Society having been voted for the various 

 donations, the business of the evening terminated. 



* To the Editor of the Neio Zealander. 



Sir,— Having occasion lately to spend a short time in the Waikato district, 

 I took an opportunity of examining the localities in which coal has been 

 found. A sliort account of uliat we saw may perhaps interest your readers. 



Coal has been seen in four or five places on the banks of the Waikato 

 liiver, in the great ridge of liills of which Taupiri is the most remarkable 

 point. We visited three of liiese places, — two on the south and one on the 

 north bank of the river. That on the north bank lias been the longest known. 

 PJany years ago a large land-slip took place and uncovered the edge of a coal 

 seam ; but it was not until within the last few years that the natives became 

 acquainted with the nature or value of the treasure so disclosed. 



The coal brought to Auckland for sale some time ago was from this place ; 

 but, being taken from the exposed surface, may be considered as an unfavour- 

 able specimen. 



At the time of our visit the quantity of clay washed down by the rains 

 was so great that the seam was nearly covered. We succeeded, however, in 

 exposing a few feet, and found the upper seam to be about 22 inches thick, of 

 close, compact texture and brilliant fracture, covered by a good substance of 

 dark brown shale, and bounded below by a much thicker led of the same 

 substance. In this lower bed of shale we were much interested by finding 

 fine specimens oS kauri gum, interspersed with small quantities of iron pyrites. 

 We were unable, from want of lime, to examine the lower stratum of coal ; 

 but there is every reason to believe that it is of great depth, the shale appearing 



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