Wi sllingios: Philosophical Society. 527 
Institute, further works on results of the Novara expedition, and survey and weather 
reports from the Royal Society of New South Wales 
1. * On a peculiar Method of Arrow Propulsion as observed amongst 
the Maoris,” by Coleman Phillips. (Transactions, p. 97.) 
The author illustrated the method described by a model. 
The President, in inviting diseussion on this paper, regretted that Mr. White had 
not been able to attend the meeting, as he felt sure that that gentleman would have 
afforded interesting information on the must Mr. White hoped to be able to deposit a 
large collection of such weapons in the Mus 
Mr. Carruthers said the absence of the ae among the Maoris was certainly curious ; 
but the same might be said of the Malay race, who were familiar with the smelting of 
iron, while the Maoris knew nothing of it. It was proof that in the migration of the 
Maori race certain arts were lost. 
Mr. Grace, who had been in New Zealand from his youth, said that the bow and 
arrow was a common weapon in the interior with the Maori youths, and he believed that 
it was originally used by the natives. It was, however, found by them to be an incon- 
venient weapon in the bush, and hence their reason for adopting the plan mentioned by 
Mr. Phillips. The Maoris scarcely ever threw a spear by hand; they used the string 
twisted round a fork in the spear. The notch mentioned by the author was new to him. 
2. ** On Grasses,” by S. M. Curl, M.D. (Transactions, p. 345.) 
This was a continuation of a paper read before the Society last year by the same 
author.* 
The . Mr. Holmes considered this a most important paper, as on the proper 
cultivation - grasses would depend in a great measure the future prosperity of the 
colony. At the present time a very small variety were grown, and not sufficient to last 
throughout the year for pasture; the principal grasses in use being the ryegrass (Lolium 
perenne), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata), timothy (Phleum pratense), Dutch clover 
(Trifolium repens), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and the cow-grass (Trifolium medium). 
Of the latter the cow-grass was the most valuable. He believed that some of those 
mentioned by Dr. Curl were among the best that could be introduced. himse 
two consignments on their way to New Zealand, of about twenty-two different varieties, 
that he believed would be of peculiar value to this country. If they proved successful, it 
would make a vast improvement in the permanent pasture of the colony. With mema 
to ergot, he did not consider it peculiar to the ryegrass, nor did its p e indi any 
falling off in the quality of the grass, and there is no reason why the grass should fail in 
consequence of it. As an instance that nature had made provision for a great variety, it 
might be mentioned that a square foot of ground that had not been broken up for years, 
was found on examination to contain seventeen different varieties. 
The President stated that the Canterbury Society had offered a prize for information 
regarding ergot. But it seemed strange that the valuable information on this subject 
afforded by Dr. Berggrent should have been entirely overlooked. He thought that by 
good draining ergot might be kept down; excessive moisture was favourable toit. He 
considered Dr. Curl’s paper of great importance. 
* Trans. N.Z. Inst., IX., 531. t Trans, N.Z. Inst., VIL, 488, 
