Wellington Philosophical Society. 551 



Mr. Cox disagreed with Mr. McKay on his theory of formation of the lakes. He 

 thought that to a large extent they had been excavated by the action of ice, and we had 

 evidence of tbe great glaciers which had existed during Cretaceous times. He instanced 

 the Blue Spur and Weather stone's Gully as illustrations of this, and argued that these 

 glaciers, which had deposited the drifts, had also in the first instance determined the con- 

 figuration of the land, and that in all subsequent elevations and depressions, the form of 

 the mountains then assumed, had been more or less maintained. 



Fifth Meeting. 15th August, 1883. 

 Dr. Newman, Vice-president, in the chair. 



1. "Kernarks on the Distribution of the Organic Productions of New 

 Zealand," by W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 461.) 



Dr. Hector said the principle of the paper was to establish an isolated origin for the 

 fauna and flora of New Zealand. It did not, however, disclose any source for that origin. 



Dr. Newman said a very short time would suffice to make difference in species. For 

 example, the colour of caterpillars depended on the food they ate. 



Mr. Travers said he assumed that the flora and fauna of New Zealand were modified 

 descendants of the fauna and flora of these islands during geological epochs. They were 

 distinct from tbose seen elsewhere. 



2. " Some new Discoveries in the Neighbourhood of Milford Sound," by 

 Donald Sutherland; communicated by A. McKay. (Transactions, p. 454.) 



3. " On the Occurrence of Chalcotrichite in New Zealand," by S. H. 

 Cox, F.G.S. (Transactions, p. 448.) 



This paper recorded the occurrence, in the Champion Copper Mine, Nelson, of a 

 mineral not hitherto discovered in New Zealand. Specimens were shown ; and the author 

 also exhibited some very rich samples of copper ore from the same mine, that yielded as 

 much as 67 per cent, of copper. 



4. A letter was read from Mr. F. L. Dodds, describing a supposed 

 Aerolite, which fell at Urenui on the 8th June last. 



5. Dr. Hutchinson exhibited some transparencies of views taken in the Saudwich 

 Islands ; and Dr. Hector called attention to an exhibit of some very fine oranges, grown 

 at the Bay of Islands by the Hon. Mr. Williams, M.L.C. 



Sixth Meeting. 29th August, 1884. 

 The Hon. Gr. P. Johnson, President, in the chair. 

 New Member. — Lee Conuell. 



1. " Remarks concerning the Green way Floating Breakwater," by J. C. 

 Crawford. 



ABSTRACT. 



This information was communicated by the author, in the hope that the system 

 might be applied to certain parts of Evans Bay, in Wellington Harbour, with a view to 

 converting it into a wet dock. He suggested also that certain improvements might be 

 made in the harbour itself, by placing these floating breakwaters in various places, which 

 would lessen the difficulty of landing from vessels in rough weather. 



