Wellington Philosophical Society. 525 



Third Meeting. 29th July, 1882. 

 W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 

 New Members. — Dr. Hutchinson, Dr. Key worth. 



1. "On the Thames Gold Field and the Laws which govern the Distri- 

 bution of the Gold," by S. H. Cox, F.G.S. (See Geol. Surv. Eeports, 1882.) 



2. "On the Waterspout which occurred in the Neighbourhood of Cook 

 Straits on the 15th July, 1882," (with illustrations,) by J. W. A. Marchant. 



ABSTRACT. 



The waterspout was first seen from Lyall Bay, about 1*30 p.m., and continued in 

 sight about a quarter of an hour. A squall, accompanied by heavy rain, was passing 

 from the westward through Cook Straits towards Cape Palliser. It was whilst engaged 

 watching the progress of the storm from the western shore of the bay that I observed the 

 waterspout clear of the south head, bearing about S.E., and distant, perhaps, two miles 

 on the northern verge of the storm area. It presented the appearance of a cylinder of a 

 blue-grey colour, several hundred feet in height, and of uniform diameter. It conveyed 

 the impression that it was suspended from a mass of lowering clouds, the extremity near 

 the surface of the sea being distinctly pointed, like a crayon, resting upon a zone of 

 elevated water in an intense state of agitation, but the gyratory motion was not per- 

 ceptible in the upper part. The column was slightly curved, being bent over towards the 

 west, and it travelled in the opposite direction towards Fitzroy Bay, and as the movement 

 was quickest at the base the inclination from the perpendicular increased ; the clouds 

 seemed to descend and assume the form usual in such cases, that of an inverted cone, 

 whilst the vapours over the sea were drawn upward, when the waterspout appeared to fade 

 away, the last appearance of the column being that of a light grey streak, contrasting 

 remarkably with the gloomy background. No unusual sound accompanied the pheno- 

 menon ; there were indications that it was not the only one formed, but the mist was too 

 dense to enable this to be clearly ascertained. The storm did not break over Lyall Bay 

 till 3 o'clock, when there was a great downpour of hail and rain, accompanied by light- 

 ning and thunder. The points which impressed me most were the immense height, the 

 symmetry, and the distinctness of the column, and the absence of agitation and convo- 

 lution in the first stage, save at the surface of the sea. 



3. At the close of the meeting the Chairman drew attention to a fine collection of 

 potteryware, manufactured by Messrs. Austin and Kirk, of Christchurch, being a portion 

 of their exhibit at the recent exhibition, and which they had presented to the Museum. 

 They comprised vases and flowers, fern-stands, corner pieces for buildings, and a variety 

 of useful articles for domestic use. A collection of glassware from an Auckland firm was 

 also exhibited ; the whole of which were greatly admired by those present, and the 

 President said that it was most gratifying to find important industries like these carried 

 on so successfully in so young a colony. He understood that these articles could be 

 obtained at prices quite as low as those imported. 



Fourth Meeting. 26th August, 1882. 

 W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair. 

 New Members.— W. C. Chatfield, G. S. Evans, J. Walker, T. B. Arnold, 

 B.A. 



1, " On Hawaii-nei and the Hawaiians," by Dr. Hutchinson. (Trans- 

 actions, p. 467.) 



