316 Proceedings. 
Selwyn, on geological grounds, that the nuggets occurring in such situations 
have been formed in si by the aggregation of gold by precipitation from 
solutions permeating the drifts. 
Mr. Skey, in other papers, suggests an improvement in the process of the 
manufacture of iodine, and shows an absorptive power which clay possesses for 
strychnia and other alkaloids, which he traces to the action of silica in 
combining with these alkaloids. 
I have thus shortly touched on the principal subjects to which the work 
of our Society has been directed during the past session, and it now only 
remains for me to thank you for the courtesy and support which I have 
received during the period for which it has been my duty and pleasure to 
preside at your meetings. 
Dr. Hector then vacated the chair, which was taken by Mr. W. T. L. 
Travers, F.L.S in the unavoidable absence of the President, Mr. Charles 
Knight, F.R.CS. 
1. “On the Occurrence of Selenium and Tellurium in the Neighbourhood 
of Wellington,” by W. S. Hamilton. 
The publication of this paper is deferred at the author s request. 
2. * Notes on Dr. Hector's paper on the Whales and Dolphins of the New 
Zealand Seas,” by J. E. Gray, Ph.D. F.R.S., Hon. Mem. N.Z. Inst. 
| (Transactions, p. 93.) 
З. * Notes on the Fixing of Sand-hills," by William Keene. Communicated 
by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. 
During the year 1867 Captain Benson, late chief manager of the P.N.Z. & A. Royal 
Mail Company, kindly undertook to make some enquiries for me as to what was done in 
Australia with regard to fixing sand-drifts. The result was the able and suggestive letter 
bearing the signature of William Keene, and given below. I suppose the writer to be 
Inspector of Mines to the Government of New South Wales, and a person whose opinion 
has weight. 
From my experience in the matter, I quite agree with Mr. Keene that, at all events 
when a fixing of the sand is to be produced within a reasonable time, the means which 
he suggests are those which should be adopted as being rapid and effectual. On the 
other hand we must not despise the grasses. I find that I can break up and transplant 
the Ammophila arundinacea (Marram, English ; Oydt, French) during all the damp 
months of the year, say from March until October; whereas in New South Wales the 
term for transplanting must be much more limited. 
I have now spread this grass over a number of acres, and although I cannot say 
that it has fixed the sand, inasmuch as there are many more acres adjoining 
from which the sand blows over the plants, yet it begins in a way to alleviate the 
nuisance. The plant receives a drift of sand like manure, and grows above it, gradually 
attaching to itself a small sand-hill, but the process is extremely slow, and requires 
constant attention. Where the sand is blowing away the plants are apt to be blown out, 
and require to be watched and transplanted. Where the sand is accumulating the plants 
