552 Proceedings. 
1. *Early Records of Auckland," by His Honour Mr. Justice Gillies. 
ABSTRACT. 
The writer observed that the preservation of the early records of a country was of : 
very great importance, as personal reminiscences, however valuable, are seldom entirely 
trustworthy, being unconsciously tinged by the views of the writer, or the part which he 
took in the events which he narrates. A great mass of the early official records were 
lost in the wreck of the ** White Swan," many years ago; but there no doubt exist in the 
possession of private individuals many records of the early history of the colony, which 
are of little value to the individual, but which, in the course of a few years, will become 
of great interest and value to the community at large, if they were only collected together. 
The author stated that it was in the hope of stimulating others who possess such records 
to bring them together, and deposit them in the Museum where they would be accessible 
to the public, that he had prepared his paper; and as a first contribution towards this 
end, he now presented to the Institute a series of 54 documents, all more or less bearing 
on the early history of the colony. 
2. “ On the Presence of Nickel in the Auckland District,” by J. A. Pond. 
(Transactions, p. 454.) 
3. * Reason in the Lower Animals," by F. G. Ewington. 
A discussion arose, in which Dr. Purehas, Col. Haultain, Mr. Moss, and others took 
part. E 
FovunrH MxzriNG. 20th August, 1877. 
R. C. Barstow, President, in the chair. 
New Members.—G. B. Beere, W. Buchanan, P. Darby, W. Dowden, T. 
Montgomery, R. F. Sandes, T. G. Sandes, A. T. Urquhart, D. C. Wilson. 
The Secretary read the list of donations to the Museum and Library since the last 
meeting. 
1. * Note on the Discovery of Moa Remains at Awitu," by A. Mactier. 
ABSTRACT. A 
The remains in question, consisting of a pair of tibie and metatarsi, together with a 
few phalanges of the foot, were stated to have been found while deepening a drain running 
through a small swamp of about 200 acres in extent, situated immediately behind the 
sand-hills on the West Coast, and about six miles to the south of the entrance to the 
= Manukau Harbour. The bones were embedded in a blue sandy clay, about six feet from 
the surface. The swamp was stated to have been partly drained by the Maoris at some 
remote period, for the lines of their old drains could still be traced in some places. 
Mr. Cheeseman said that the bones appeared to be referable to Professor Owen's 
Dinornis giganteus. 
2. “Notes on a Deposit in the Shaft of the Pumping Association, 
Grahamstown, Thames,” by G. Black. (Transactions, p. 456.) 
A long discussion then ensued, in which Messrs Stewart, Goodall, J. B. Russell, and 
Dr. Purchas took part. - 
. 8. “ Descriptions of new Species of Coleoptera,” by Capt. T. Broun. 
|. Thisypaper contained descriptions of new species belonging to the families Anthri- 
3 
L 
b 
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