8 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 
I think it unnecessary to notice further observations which have been taken 
in other parts of the Province. I may state, however, that I have been 
informed by the officer who triangulated the Moeraki and Hawksbury Districts 
(Mr. England) that, in many localities other than those noted, aberration of the 
action of the magnetic needle prevailed to such an extent at the time he was 
engaged on his survey, that it was in some cases a matter of great difficulty, 
and in others quite impossible, for him to delineate accurately the topographical 
features of the country from compass observations. The disturbing force in 
this District, whatever it may be, exerts its influence beyond the limits of the 
coast line. Conversing, only yesterday, with the captain of one of our sea- 
going steamers, I asked him whether he ever perceived anything unusual in 
the action of his compasses in sailing along the coast. He replied, * Yes ; at 
Moeraki my compasses are always affected,” and added that many other 
masters of vessels had noticed similar irregularities. I was prompted to ask 
this question by remembering some circumstances in my own experience which, 
when I relate them, if they do not suggest a probable cause of the effect I have 
noted, may at least be considered as a somewhat remarkable coincidence. 
Twenty-five years ago, in the course of business, I held much intercourse with 
the masters of vessels navigating the north-east coast of England. Frequently, 
when the action of their compasses was the subject of conversation, I have 
heard the captains in the coal trade (who, at that time, oftener held their 
positions in virtue of their having certificates of servitude than of competency? 
but who, nevertheless, were generally shrewd, observant, and sensible men) 
remark that in hugging the land when passing a particular place on the 
Yorkshire coast, which they pointed out on the chart, the compass cards 
danced about in all directions, and were, so far as indicating the ship’s head 
was concerned, positively useless. Many years subsequent to this—I forget 
the exact date—those immense deposits of magnetic ore in the Cleveland Hills, 
the works in connection with which are now giving employment to several 
thousands of human beings, were discovered, and to their existence, when it 
became known, the erratic action of the mariner’s compass in the locality 
referred to was attributed—possibly erroneously. 
It is not my intention to-night to place before you any of the theories 
which have been enunciated by the many eminent men who have made this 
branch of physical science their study, to account for the phenomena connected 
therewith. I have no hypothesis of my own to offer. I have sometimes been 
amused—not only amused, but amazed—at the facility with which some 
persons, enunéiatore of whimsical theories, by a fanciful manipulation of data, 
which ordinary mortals cannot comprehend, have given to the offspring of an 
excited imagination or an erratic intellect the appearance of an absolutely 
demonstrated truth. I do not, however possess this facul izi 
› ty of hypothesizing. 
