Wellington Philosophical Society. 549 



that the breaks were all fresh, he himself having made them, but beyond that he could 

 say nothing about the find, except that the quartz had a very close resemblance to that 

 of the Wealth of Nations at Eeefton. 



Dr. Hector also exhibited a calf of Kogia brevlceps, a rare species of whale, which had 

 been taken from a cow harpooned near Petone, and a fossil ammonite belonging to the 

 Permian formation, found near Nugget Point, in the South Island, by Mr. McKay, and 

 measuring nearly eighteen inches in diameter. 



Third Meeting. 18*/i July, 1883. 

 The Hon. G. B. Johnson, President, in the Chair. 

 New Members.— E. F. Clarke, J. S. M. Thompson, E. D. Bell. 

 1. " On Earth Tremors and Earthquakes," by Hon. Bobert Hart. 



ABSTRACT. 



The author sought to establish that matter near the earth's surface is in a constant 

 state of vibration ; that matter so in a state of vibration is constantly seeking a level ; 

 that the level so sought is on no two consecutive days alike ; and, incidentally, that the 

 denudation of a portion of surface of a considerable amount of superimposed weight 

 mus.t tend to the elevation of the denuded surface by the pressure of the surrounding 

 accumulations. 



Sections and drawings were exhibited. 



Mr. Cox was not prepared to entirely support the author's conclusions, as elevation 

 must occur before denudation commences. As regards the origin of earthquakes, he was 

 of opinion that to a large extent they were due to the gradual shrinkage of the solid earth, 

 from the loss of heat by radiation — for, although we must consider the earth as a highly 

 elastic solid body as a whole, as shown by a comparison of the theoretical and actual 

 specific gravity of the surface rocks and the entire mass — still the earth was a solid, and 

 the shrinkage due to loss of heat could only be attended by sudden and at times violent 

 fractures, which are shown geologically in the faults which traverse the strata, and of 

 which in more recent times we have actual evidence in the earthquake shocks. He did 

 not mean to dispute that some earthquakes were due to volcanic energy, but these were of 

 secondary origin and were of comparatively small extent, while those which had a more 

 wide- spread character owed their origin equally with volcanic phenomena to the shrinkage 

 of the solid earth. 



Dr. Hector considered that in discussing the causes of earthquakes and of changes of 

 relative level, the important part played by the interstitial water that is absorbed by rocks 

 under certain conditions, was too much lost sight of. 



Fourth Meeting. 1st August, 1883. 

 The Hon. G. B. Johnson, President, in the chair. 

 New Member. — J. S. Butherford. 



1. " On a new Cuttle-fish, Tremoctopus robsonianus, obtained by C. H. 

 Bobson at Napier," by T. W. Kirk. 



ABSTRACT. 



Tremoctopus robsoni, n. sp. 



This species differs from the description of the genus Tremoctopus as given by Adams, 

 in that the web reaches to and extends beyond the tips of the superior arms. 



