Wellington Philosophical Society. 443 
pumice was of great age, as it must have been deposited by the rivers when 
they ran at a much greater height than at present. Mr. Crawford did not 
prove by his paper that the sea had not been relatively lower, or, in other 
words, that the land had not been undergoing submergence. The sea could 
never have been at a much higher level, or the pumice would have been 
drifted up, but there is every reason to believe that the country was much 
higher formerly, and, in the interior, contained larger lakes by which the 
pumice would be drifted up at great heights above the sea. 
Mr. Hart thought that indications of sea level, by deposits of pumice, 
could not be relied upon as a measure of time, and instanced cases of sudden 
elevations or depressions in this province. 
Mr. Travers said there were other indications of an alteration in the 
elevation of the coast line ; for instance, the raised sea beach on the Hutt road. 
On the motion of Mr. Mantell, the discussion of Mr. Crawford’s paper 
was deferred until the first meeting after it should have been printed. 
3. “On Hybridization with reference to Variation in Plants,” by 
W.T. L. Travers, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 31.) 
Dr. Heetor remarked that it was highly satisfaetory that a gentleman 
who was a member of that Society had, by close observation of nature in 
this colony, arrived at conclusions on this subject, which were almost 
identical with some of the views now advocated by Darwin, and he under- 
stood from Mr. Travers that the substance of his paper was bomemiated 
to Dr. Hooker, in a letter, some years ago. 
4. A paper by Mr. Buchanan, botanist and draughtsman to the Museum, 
on “Variation in the New Zealand Flora” (reserved), was read by Dr. 
Hector; but as it was thought desirable to consider these two papers 
` together, the discussion was postponed until next meeting. ` 
Mr. Mantell suggested that the discussion would be rendered more 
interesting and intelligible if specimens of the plants referred to by the 
essayists were laid on the;table. 
Resolved, * That the ordinary meetings of the Society should, in future, 
be held at half-past seven for business, and that the reading of papers should 
commence at eight o'clock." 
[Fovgrm MzrzrING. 25th August, 1868. 
| W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., in the chair. 
1. Mr. Crawford read the following notes by Mr. E. Baker, “On the 
Appearance of a Meteor whieh had been recently observed by several 
persons in the Neighbourhood of Wellington." 
