550 Proceedings. 
Mr, Firth considered that the whole of the northern portion of the North Island was 
eminently suitable for the cultivation of Sorghum. It had this great advantage, that, 
unlike the sugar-cane or beetroot, it required no very expensive plant of machinery to 
extract the sugar. During late years its pebiboiion had increased in an enormous degree 
in the United States, and there was every probability that in a short time a very large 
proportion of the sugar consumed there would be produced by it. Sorghum had a further 
advantage over beet, in the fact that the sugar it yielded was from the very first grateful 
and acceptable to the palate, while in the case of beet-sugar the taste had to be trained 
to like it. 
Mr, Pond was sorry that the discussion had turned on the comparative advantages of 
Sorghum and beet, for he considered that there was ample room for the cultivation of both 
in the Colony. As for the statement respecting the objectionable taste of beet-sugar, it 
was quite certain that with proper methods of refining it was as pleasant to the taste as 
sugar prepared from the sugar-cane or Sorghum. 
Mr. W. D. Campbell corroborated Mr. Pond’s statement respecting the taste of refined 
beet-sugar. 
2. “The Shadow of Justice,” by E. A. Mackechnie. 
ABSTRACT. 
The object of this paper was to show that perfect justice is not attainable 
(1) in consequence of the imperfection of the human mind itself; (2) from 
the different effects produced upon different minds by the same fact or set of 
— ; and (8) from the character of legal procedure in Courts of Justice. 
3. ‘ The New Zealand Dascyllide,” by cosas Broun. (Reserved for 
tees publication). 
ABSTRACT. 
“The author remarked that we are indebted to Dr. Sharp, of Dumfries, 
for most of our information on this difficult family of beetles. Dr. Sharp 
enumerates 8 genera and 24 species. In the “‘ Manual of the New Zealand 
_ Coleoptera,” 11 new species are added, and in the present paper 16 more, 
making a total of 56 species known to inhabit New Zealand. Only 14 
kinds are known to exist in Great Britain. 
4. Mr. Josiah Martin exhibited some photographs taken by the new platinum process. 
On the motion of Mr. Peacock, seconded by Mr. Firth, Mr. J. T. Mackelvie, F.B.G.S., 
and Mr. T, Russell, C.M.G., were elected honorary members of the Auckland Institute. 
Fourts Mrrrinc. 5th September, 1881. 
T. Peacock, President, in the chair. 
New Metis 6 Coombes, R. Cranwell, E. C. Goldsmith, W. J. Offer. 
Se en tac Me: Clliee paper ax Sorpliom colteration, ad 4 TE ae 
1. “Ona Preniaeenpest Form of Gold,” by W. D. Oomph: EGS. 
: ALT. tome (Fremeetion, p- B90) 
