Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute. 459 
Tump Meetine. 14th July, 1879. 
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair. 
1. “The Influence of Forests on Climate and Rainfall,” by F. S. Pep- 
percorne, C.E. (Transactions, p. 24.) 
2. The Hon. Secretary read an interesting, lately printed, paper by the Director of 
the Botanical Gardens, Adelaide.—** On the Vegetable Fragments found in the Tombs 
and other Monumental Buildings of the Ancient Egyptians.” 
Fourta Meretine. 11th August, 1879. 
Dr. Spencer, Vice-president, in the chair. 
The Honorary Secretary gave “an outline memoir of the two brothers Allan and 
Richard Cunningham, who were both early botanists and discoverers in New Zealand, and 
whose names are intimately bound up with the Flora of this Colony, as well as with that 
of the neighbouring Australian Colonies. This narration was supplemented by extracts 
from Mr. Allan Cunningham’s letters to Mr. Colenso, and by a few prominent character- 
istie passages concerning the two brothers, from botanical and other works little known in 
New Zealand, and also by portraits of the two unfortunate brothers, who may truly be 
said to have been martyrs to their favourite science—botany.” 
From among the many reasons which prevailed with Mr. Colenso to bring this subject 
before the meeting, the following (mentioned by him) may be particularly noticed :— 
(1.) The two Cunninghams forming a connecting scientific link in the New Zealand field 
with those scientific men who accompanied Cook hither on his expeditions; both the 
Cunninghams having been well-known to Sir Joseph Banks, through whom they also in- 
dividually received their respective appointments as Government Botanists to New South 
(2.) n Colenso's personal knowledge of, and intimate friendship with, the 
amented Allan unningham. And (3.) Their many striking discoveries in New Zealand 
x an early Be which deserve being duly remembered. 
Firra MzzTING. 4th September, 1879. 
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair. 
l. *A few Remarks on a Cavern near ‘ Cook's Well, at Tolaga Bay, 
and on a Tree (Sapota repe found there," by W. Colenso, F.L.S. (Trans- 
actions, p. 147). 
Several botanical and other specimens were exhibited. 
2. Mr. Colenso gave an account of the Maori myth of “ Kae and the Pet Whale of 
Tinirau ;” illustrating the same with similar legends (as to tame whales— Delphinus sp.) 
from ancient Greek and Roman history, Pagan and Christian 
SixrH Meetine. 18th October, 1879. 
The Right Rev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair. 
1. “ On the Moa (Dinornis), Part IL," by W. Colenso, F.L.S. (Trans- 
actions, p. 68.) 
