Wellington Philosophical Society/. 493 



Thied Meeting. 8^^ August, 1874. 

 Charles Knight, F.E-.C.S., President, in the chair. 

 I^ew members. — Andrew Tod, J. E. Nathan, Hon. Colonel Brett. 



Dr. Hector called attention to the valuable contributions which had been 

 presented to the Museum since the last meeting. Among these were a large 

 collection of Crustacea — shrimps, prawns, and such like — found at Spitzbergen, 

 presented, with some valuable works, descriptive of the collection, by Professor 

 Loven, of Stockholm; also a series of English Crag fossils, presented by Mr. 

 Crowfoot, of Norwich. 



1. "Description of a Wreck found at the Haast River," by Thomas 

 Turnbull, Harbour-master at Hokitika; communicated by W. T. L. Travers, 

 F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 146.) 



This fragment was found at a great distance from the present high-water 

 mark, surrounded by dense bush. It was discovered by diggers in 1867, since 

 which time no trace could be found of any vessel of that class having been 

 wrecked on the coast of New Zealand. From the peculiar manner of 

 construction. Captain Turnbull concluded that it was a piece of the hull of a 

 French or Netherlands built ship. 



Dr. Hector said that in 1867 he had called attention to the wreck in a 

 short account which appeared in the society's papers, and, by the kindness of 

 the District Surveyor, Mr. Muller, he had been enabled to make the sketch 

 showing the position of the wreck, which he exhibited. The most important 

 point was the distance from high-water mark at which it had been found, 

 which was fully 300 yards. It was surrounded by low ngaio scrub, the 

 terraces behind being heavily timbered. This proved that the high-water 

 mark at that time must have been very different from what it is at present. 

 It had been suggested during the former discussion that the piece of wreck 

 had been cast into that position by an earthquake wave, but he thought it 

 rather due to the rapid making of the coast. The vessel to which it had 

 belonged had been built in a peculiar manner, screw trenails having been used, 

 and a layer of felt between every two layers of timber. 



The Hon. Captain Eraser suggested that it might be a portion of 

 La Perouse's ship "T Astrolabe," which had for many years been sought in 

 vain. He intended taking a portion of it home with him, and lodging it with 

 the French Government, with a view to identification. 



2. "On the Identity of the Moa-hunters with the present Maori Eace," by 

 Alexander McKay, of the Geological Survey Department. {Transactions, 

 p. 98.) 



Mr. T. Cockburn-Hood said, with reference to the existence of distinct 

 traditions regarding the Moa, few persons could possibly doubt the fact who 



