424 Proceedings. 
8. Some very interesting exhibits of iron ores, recently discovered by the Geological 
Survey Department, were on the table, two of which Dr. Hector considered deserved 
nam mention in connection with efforts that the Government is making to encourage 
manufacture of iron in the Colony. Both the ores were discovered by Mr. A. McKay, 
of Ma Geological Department, during the progress of the survey in the past year. One 
is a brown hematite containing 54 p. c. of metallic iron, which occurs in a bed 50 feet 
thick, but is reported to expand in places to several hundred feet. It is associated with 
erystalline limestone at the base of the carboniferous formation, and extends for many 
miles through the western ranges towards the source of the Takaka River. The speci- 
mens obtained were from the surface, and deeper down it most probably passes into red 
hematite, a much richer ore that contains 70 p. c. of metal. This is, no doubt, the con- 
tinuation of the same band of iron ore that reaches the sea at Parapara. The other form 
of ore was discovered at Jenkins’ coal mine, close to the town of Nelson, and is spathie 
ore, or carbonate of iron eontaining 40 p. c. of metal, in a form of combination that is 
very favourable for smelting, being in consequence one of the most valuable description 
of iron ores known. It was not found in situ, as the workings are abandoned, but it has 
been thrown out with the debris from the coal pit in considerable quantity, its valuable 
qualities having hitherto escaped notice. ; 
4. Specimens of 17 new species of grasses, described in a paper by Mr. Buchanan, 
were laid on the table. 
Srcow» Meetine. 26th July, 1879. 
Martin Chapman, Vice-president, in the chair. 
New Members —H. W. Saxton, of New Plymouth ; W. H. Holmes. 
1. *On the Forest Question in New Zealand," by A. Lecoy, LL.B., 
M.A. (Transactions, p. 8 
The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse thought the author too sanguine as to the success of such 
an undertaking in New Zealand at present, at the same time believing it to be highly 
important that conservation of New Zealand forests should be commenced, as no doubt 
in the future some such scheme as the author advanced might be carried out. He could 
hardly agree with the author’s estimate, especially as regards the value of our timber as 
compared with others, or as to the small expense of management when the present price 
of labour is considered. 
ewman agreed with Mr. Waterhouse. He did not think we could compete with 
other REPE especially on a large scale. The author was mistaken as to the great 
value of our timber; still it was most important that New Zealand forests sheuld be 
d. 
Mr. Blundell, while considering the paper valuable, thought the calculations and esti- 
mates scarcely reliable. He agreed that conservation should be carried out with the view 
Mr. O’Neill was of opinion that great weight should be attached to the views of the 
author, as coming from one who had devoted so much of his time to the question of 
forestry, and who could speak on the subject with so much experience. He, himself, agreed 
that some of our timbers were superior in many ways to those used elsewhere. The 
rud deserved the thanks of the society for having brought forward such an important 
