Wellington Philosophical Society. 549 
that the breaks were all fresh, he himself having made them, but beyond that he could 
say nothing about the find, except that the quartz had a very close resemblance to that 
of the Wealth of Nations at Reefton. 
Dr. Hector also exhibited a calf of Kogia breviceps, a rare species of whale, which had 
been taken from a cow harpooned near Petone, and a fossil ammonite belonging to the 
Permian formation, found near Nugget Point, in the South Island, by Mr. McKay, and 
measuring nearly eighteen inches in diameter. 
Tap Muero. 18th July, 1883. 
The Hon. G. R. Johnson, President, in the Chair. 
New Members.—E. F. Clarke, J. 8. M. Thompson, E. D. Bell. 
1. “On Earth Tremors and Earthquakes,” by Hon. Robert Hart. 
STRACT. 
The author sought to establish that matter near the earth’s surface is in a constant 
state of vibration; that matter so in a state of vibration is constantly seeking a level ; 
that the level so sought is on no two consecutive days alike; and, incidentally, that the 
denudation of a portion of surface of a considerable amount of superimposed weight 
must tend to the elevation of the denuded surface by the pressure of the surrounding 
accumulations. 
Sections and drawings were exhibited. 
Mr. Cox was not prepared to entirely support the author's conclusions, as elevation 
must occur before denudation commences. As regards the origin of earthquakes, he was 
of opinion that to a large extent they were due to the gradual shrinkage of the solid earth, 
from the loss of heat by radiation—for, although we must consider the earth as a highly 
elastic solid body as a whole, as shown by a comparison of the theoretical and actual 
specific gravity of the surface rocks and the entire mass—still the earth was a solid, and 
the shrinkage due to loss of heat could only be attended by sudden and at times violent 
fractures, which are shown geologically in the faults which traverse the strata, and of 
which in more recent times we have actual evidence in the earthquake shocks. He did 
not mean to dispute that some earthquakes were due to volcanic energy, but these were of 
secondary origin and were of comparatively small extent, while those which had a more 
wide-spread character owed their origin equally with volcanic phenomena to the shrinkage 
of the solid earth. 
Dr. Hector considered that in discussing the causes of earthquakes and of changes of 
relative level, the important part played by the interstitial water that is absorbed by rocks 
under certain conditions, was too much lost sight of. j 
Fourra Meeting. Ist August, 1883. 
The Hon. G. R. Johnson, President, in the chair. 
New Member.—J. S. Rutherford. 
1. “On a new Cuttle-fish, Tremoctopus robsonianus, obtained by C. H. 
Robson at Napier,” by T. W. Kirk. 
ABSTRACT. 
Tremoctopus robsoni, n. Sp. 
This species differs from the description of the genus Tremoctopus as given by Adams, 
in that the web reaches to and extends beyond the tips of the superior arms, 
