14 Transactions.— Miscellaneous. 
instead of being violently projected from the basin, gradually sinks, usually 
taking about six hours to disappear. Many of the other goysers and springs 
are similarly affected, whilst others again exhibit no change in their action. 
But independently of this more remarkable effect upon the waters of the 
Tarata basin, it appears to be well established that similar effects, increas- 
ing or diminishing in intensity, occur regularly as the wind passes round 
southerly from east to north-west, whilst in the case of the Tarata and all 
the other springs, their activity increases as the wind passes to the north- 
ward of east or west, reaching its maximum during warm north-east 
weather. It seems open to doubt whether any connexion exists between 
the winds and the concurrent phenomena exhibited by the springs, beyond 
the fact that they are both due to the same cause; but whatever may be 
the eause which produces the effect in question upon the geysers, it can only 
be ascertained, if ascertainable at all, by long continued and carefully taken 
observations, extended over the whole area of country presenting these 
remarkable phenomena. The problem thus presented for solution is one of 
the highest scientific interest, but without some state aid I doubt whether 
its solution could be attempted by any scientific body in New Zealand. 
Another singular and highly interesting fact is that delicate forms of 
Conferve and Alge are to be found in almost all the rills from these boiling 
springs, where the waters are not sulphurous ; many of the most beautiful 
forms being found in water sufficiently hot to blister the skin if immersed 
in it for a few moments. During the visit of the Challenger scientific 
expedition, I was especially requested by Mr. Mosley, one of the staff, to 
collect these particular plant forms, which are the speeial study of a gentle- 
man in Dublin, to whom he wished them to be transmitted. I haveavailed 
myself of an offer made by Capt. Mair to make collections for me, and have 
sent him for the purpose a number of phials filled with absolute alcohol, 
with directions as to the mode in which the plants were to be collected. I 
have no doubt but that the result will be highly interesting, both as regards 
the forms of the plants and the degree of heat which may be found to be 
not antagonistic to the maintenance of vegetable life in these lower forms. 
Whether singular or not, I observed that deposits of sulphur rarely 
took place either from water or from boiling mud. There were small in- 
erustations of sulphur on the marginal flat of the ‘pink terrace, but I am 
inclined to think that these had been formed by jets of steam, and had not 
been deposited from the waters, for I found that wherever steam jets 
occurred they appeared to be more or less associated with sulphurous gases, 
sulphur being deposited on the edges of the escape holes and on the under 
surfaces of the rock in communication with the jets. 
The time at my command since my return has not permitted my doing 
