Minutes of Meetings. 5 
we, as representatives of its Scientific Institutions, beg especially to thank 
you for the great work which you have achieved in collecting and preserving 
the early traditions and poetry of its aboriginal inhabitants, thereby securing 
the permanence of valuable records for the future study of Ethnologists. 
In bidding you a hearty farewell, it is our earnest hope and prayer that all 
honour, health, and happiness may attend you.” 
Sir George Grey replied, and stated that he was not aware until just 
before the meeting that such an address would be presented to him. He felt 
very grateful for the honour His Excellency and the Governors of the Society 
had done him, and hoped that though about to leave New Zealand he might 
still have it in his power to be of some assistance in advancing scientific 
pursuits in the colony. He then spoke at some length as to the interesting 
field open in this colony for contributing to science important observations 
bearing on the study of the human race. Sir George Grey gave some 
interesting examples of the curious results likely to ensue from a comparison 
of the traditions and history of the Maori race with that of the early 
inhabitants of Britain, and concluded by expressing his earnest thanks for 
the address, and the great interest he would always feel in all matters 
affecting the colony. 
After a few observations from the Bishop of Wellington as to Sir George 
Grey’s academic career, and his acquaintance with the hard work by which 
he had attained his present high political and scientific position, the meeting 
adjourned. 
Frerg MzzrING, 19th September, 1868. 
His Excellency the Governor in the chair. 
Address by the Hon. W. B. D. MaxrELL, on the Moa. 
(ABSTRACT.) 
After a few appropriate remarks from His Excellency, the lecturer 
commenced by saying that the subject was of too extensive a character to be 
dealt with fully in one lecture, as it involved the consideration of difficult 
questions in comparative anatomy, geology, and archeology, and in the tradi- 
tional history of the Maoris. After instancing examples to show that New 
. Zealand was not peculiar in the circumstance that huge birds without the 
power of flight were the highest form of life previous to the arrival of man 
in the islands, he proceeded to describe the different circumstances under 
which the remains of the Moa are found, assigning the highest antiquity to 
those that are found under the stalagmite in certain limestone caves similar 
to the bone eaves in which traces of the early animals which inhabited Great 
Britain are preserved to us. He drew attention to the fact that in the 
British caves, among the great variety of animals represented, there is 
