Wellington Philosophical Society. 409 
President contended for the specific value of Apteryw mantelli of the North 
Island, on the ground that it was readily distinguishable from the other 
bird, and that the variation was constant ; while Professor Kirk agreed with 
Dr. Finsch, who proposes to eall it Apteryx australis var. mantelli, consider- 
ing that the bird discovered in the North Island is merely a variety of the 
species in the South (Apteryx australis) the slight difference between them 
being insufficient to warrant their separation. 
Seconp Generat Meetina. 21st August, 1875. 
W. T. L. Travers, Esq., Vice-President, in the chair. 
New Members.—The following new members were elected :—L. H. B. 
Wilson, H. C. W. Wrigg, R. P. Orme, C.E. 
1. Mr. Carruthers then read a paper on ‘‘ Volcanic Action regarded as 
due to the Retardation of the Earth’s Rotation.” (See Transactions, 
page 352.) 
The discussion of the paper was postponed until next meeting, so that 
members might have an opportunity of reading the paper. 
9. A paper by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S., on the “ Igneous Rocks of Wel- 
lington’’ was read by the Chairman. The paper pointed out the course 
that past explorations had taken in regard to the igneous rocks of the Pro- 
vince, and suggested that further information should be obtained on the 
subject. (See Transactions, page 375.) 
Tarp Generat Meertine. 6th September, 1875. 
Dr. Buller, President, in the chair. 
New Members.—Charles Dopping Irvine, B.A., C.E.; Dr. Rudolph von 
Mirbach ; William H. Watt ; Charles T. Benzoni. 
1. The discussion on Mr. Carruther’s paper on ‘ Volcanic Action 
regarded as dueto the Retardation of the Earth’s Rotation” (See Trans- 
actions, page 852) then took place. 
Mr. Irvine contended that— 
1st. Mr. Carruthers’ hypothesis was based on an assumption, a mere 
deduction, a priori, that the earth had undergone a retardation in 
the rate of its motion on its polar axis, and that there may be 
other causes at work tending to increase its rate of rotation. Mr. 
Carruthers advanced no observations to prove his assumption. 
2nd. Granting a retardation of rotation, and also that the earth is a 
solid mass, then that the result of retardation would not be an 
elongation of the polar axis, caused by pressure from the equator 
on the internal mass ; but, on the contrary, a flood of water in- 
undating the polar regions, and flowing from the equator to the 
c2 
