Wellington Philosophical Society. §43 
of the cobwebs of prejudice which surrounded it in the public mind. Another interesting 
paper is one by Mr. Travers upon the effects of certain floods. In arranging the papers of 
the “ Transactions ” for the printer, he found that a valuable paper was read before the 
Otago Institute by Mr. Arthur on a similar subject, and both opened up a question of great 
importance and interest. Mr. Arthur had shown that storms could be gauged in such a 
manner that we could ascertain what amount of rain was likely to be deposited upon 
a certain area of country. Advantage might be taken of this knowledge to erect dams to 
hold the quantity of water that might fall within a given time. These dams might be 
placed in favourable positions for trapping the water, and by performing the same fune- 
tions as Lakes in Alpine districts, and only allowing it to fet ey es a See deaes 
thus prevent the damage done by floods. Every 
of a rain gauge, and by a comparison of results eek valuable information iach be ‘ica 
gathered. He again adverted to the necessity for systematic Magnetical observations in 
New Zealand. Not long ago Professor Stokes, one of the secretaries of the Royal 
Society read a a Remarkable paper on the effect of electrical storms caused by revolving 
vering some link between these electrical storms and earthquakes, but to 
- solve this question would necessitate a much more complete equipment in our 
observatories than we possess at present. We must take some more accurate means 
of recording the passage of earthquake shocks, their duration and locality. In the 
' matter of zoological work the past year would be known as the Notornis year. This bird 
was once supposed to be extinct like the moa, but now it was to be hoped that more 
‘specimens would soon be available for their inspection and — He might mention 
that Dr. Buller’s new “‘ Manual of the Birds of New Zealand.” was now through the press. 
The last sheets had been corrected, and the work would, in ee days, be in the hands of 
the public. In botanical work the Society had placed on record some very interesting 
discoveries, most of which had been in relation to the alpine flora of New Zealand. They 
had now got a very complete collection of live plants from the mountain ranges, specimens 
of which had been distributed by the Government to the different gardens in the colony. 
They had also just received from Mr. Kirk a very complete collection from Stewart Island. 
A most valuable series of observations commenced by the late Mr. Ludlam had not been 
carried out, and no one had again taken the matter up. These. observations were in con- 
nection with the periods of budding and fruiting of various kinds of introduced trees 
and plants. Much valuable information might be obtained in this manner, and might 
Prevent us mistakes in the introduction of forest and other trees. After further 
- remarks on various attacks recently made on the uniformitarian school of geologists _ 
founded by the late Sir Charles Lyell, Dr. Hector concluded by thanking the members of 
the Society for the manner in which they had supported him during his term of office as. 
armrg 
“ On a Fundamental Error in Dynamics, the Theory of Gravitation, 
: oy the Nebular Hypothesis,” age News: Falkner. 
The paper dealt with Newton's oe sighs of Kepler’s laws and that = fg 
part of the nebular hypothesis that hinges on it. The writer ¢ conte: : 
