Auckland Institute. 449 
Naturally he prefers to believe that the laws of nature have been suspended, 
and from that moment he becomes unintentionally the ally of the impostor, 
_ and developes a strange ingenuity in evading all difficulties, and seizing every 
bit of evidence that seems to make in his favour.” * 
T had intended to have made some reference to spectroscopic science—to the 
wonderful perfection which has been attained in the measurement of minute 
intervals of time, intervals bearing the same proportion to a second that a 
second does to an hour—and especially to the great subject of astronomical 
interest, the’ approaching transit of Venus across the Sun’s dise, which should 
be of particular interest to us, since its last occurrence in 1769 was the 
immediate occasion of the first exploration of these Islands, and the means of 
introducing them to the knowledge of the European world, and since this 
place is one of the forty-six stations determined on for observation of the 
ensuing one, by concert between the four Governments of England, France, 
Germany, and Russia. But I have trespassed at so inordinate a length on 
your attention that I will now conclude, with a hope that in the present 
session we shall not only have a continuance of the truly scientific papers 
which have hitherto given the transactions of these Societies a permanent 
value, but that our members, who like myself are without the technical 
knowledge and observant habits necessary to the collector and collator in the 
natural history sciences, will, nevertheless, take courage from the feeble 
attempt I have made to bring forward subjects requiring general and desultory 
reading only. 
The Secretary drew attention to a remarkably fine specimen of Soleno- 
gnathus spinosissimus, presented by Mr. Wyatt, of Mongonui, and to several 
other recent presentations. 
1. “Notes on the Flora of the Lake District of the North Island,” by 
T. Kirk, F.L.S. (See Transactions, p. 322.) 
This paper was illustrated by numerous dried specimens of plants collected 
in the district and presented to the Museum by the Director of the Geological 
Survey. 
2. A note by Capt. Hutton was read on the occurrence of the sprat and 
anchovy at the Thames, and specimens of these fishes, presented by Mr. C. O. 
Davis, were exhibited. 
_ 3. “On the Growth of Phormium tenax,” by the Hon. Col. Haultain. 
(See Transactions, p. 357.) 
* “Saturday Review,” March 16, 1872, p. 331. 
