Auckland Institute. 455 
of the tree and the bright green foliage affords a pleasing relief to the land- 
scape. Young plants average about one foot of fresh wood in a season. 
Nesodaphne taraire.—A lofty and handsome forest tree, from 60 to 
80 feet high ; wood white ; leaves three to six inches long. Young plants 
grow freely. 
A lenthy discussion ensued in which Messrs. Stewart, Haultain, Kirk, 
Heale, Munro, and the author took part. 
3. “On Shells collected North of the Auckland Isthmus,” by T. B. Gillies. 
This was an account of the terrestrial and fluviatile shells collected during 
the cruise of the “ Glance,” in 1868. So few facilities for naming shells of 
this kind exist in the colony that the author sent a series of specimens to 
Professor McAlister of Dublin, who had kindly- favoured him with their 
identifications, which were now published for general information. 
4, On the Botany and Conchology of Great Omaha,” by T. Kirk, F.L.S, 
(See Transactions, p. 363.) 
The author gave a sketch of the chief features of the locality with a 
catalogue of the marine, fluviatile, and terrestrial shells collected by him. 
SıxTH Meetine. 14th October, 1872. 
T. Heale, President, in the chair. 
New members.—A. Heather, W. C. Roberts, Owen Jones, J. Mason, 
J. W. Preece, Capt. J. Wilson, A. Sheath. 
The monthly list of donations to the Library and Museum was read by 
the Secretary. 
Capt. F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S., F.G.S., was chosen to vote in the election 
of the Board of Governors for the ensuing year, in accordance with clause 7 
of the New Zealand Institute Act. 
1. Mr. Kirk read a memorandum by Governor Weld on the jam tree 
(Acacia, sp.,) of West Australia, of which he had forwarded a parcel of seed 
through Dr. Hector for distribution in the province of Auckland. 
2. “On the Fertilization of the New Zealand species of Pterostylis,” by 
T. F. Cheeseman. (See Transactions, p. 352.) 
3. “Notice of a Remarkable Arborescent Fern on N gongotaha,” by T. 
Kirk, F.L.S. (See Transactions, p. 347 J 
4. On the Specific Characters of Dicksonia antarctica, Br., and D. lanata, 
Col.,” by T. Kirk, F.L.S. (See Transactions, p. 345.) 
5. “On a New Mode of Compiling Tables of Logarithms,” by R. J. 
Pearce. 
