Anniversary Address. xxxiii. 



The coldness of the nights in New Zealand makes the climate 

 specially favourable for the process of freezing the meat ; but, 

 admirable as are the arrangements at Belfast, near Christchurch 

 (where I had the pleasure of witnessing the operations), and else- 

 where, I feel that much may yet have to be considered in the 

 working-out of the details. 



The principle of the machinery now in use is, that air is first 

 compressed to such an extent that it attains a temperature of 300°, 

 is then passed through cold tubes so as to be restored to its 

 former temperature, though in its compressed state, and is then 

 allowed to re-expand to its original dimensions, which causes its 

 temperature to fall to zero. It seems probable, however, that, under 

 some circumstances, it will be found that other means — as, for 

 instance, the application of ammonia, ether, or sulphurous acid — 

 are more suitable for freezing purposes than the compression of air. 



LITEEATUEE. 



I consider it a most healthy sign of the times that, during a period 

 in which scientific knowledge has so rapidly advanced, literary study 

 and research have made such steady and remarkable progress. Time 

 would not permit me even to emunerate the principal literary works 

 of the past year; but, to take merely one branch as an example — 

 archaeology — how much is there to tell ! 



DISCOVEEIES IN EGYPT. 



Foremost amongst the archaeological discoveries must be placed 

 the interesting investigations which have recently been made in 

 Egypt. 



In 1878 some ruins at Tel-El-Maskutah, which had previously 

 been considered " not worth visiting " (although some scholars had 

 believed them to mark the site of Raamses, mentioned in the book of 

 Exodus), were practically examined, and, amongst other things, was 

 found a sculptured group, which was conveyed to Ismailia. When Sir 

 Erasmus Wilson's exploring expedition commenced operations last 

 year, the first step taken by M. Naville, who was in command of the 

 party, was to examine these carvings. He observed that they were 

 dedicated to the god Turn, the setting sun, and describe Rameses II. 

 (the great monarch of the 18th Egyptian dynasty, who reigned in 

 the 14th century B.C.) as the friend of Turn. Hence he conjectured 

 that they might come from one of the many cities which bore the 

 sacred or temple name (as opposed to the popular name) of Pe-Tum 

 (i.e., the abode of Turn) ; and that this Petum might be the same as 

 the City of Pithom, which is mentioned in Exodus i., 11, as one of 

 the treasure cities built by the children of Israel for Pharaoh. On 

 G 



