Wellington Philosophical Society/. 501 



of the isolated island of Rapa, by whom he was perfectly understood. The 

 Polynesians were bold navigators, more so probably in early times than 

 now; but even recently the Tongan canoes used to go constantly as far as 

 !N"ea, or Wallis Island, to bring blocks of porphyry, and the ancestors of those 

 Maori chiefs Mr. Wilson had adverted to may probably be descended from 

 fresh adventurers who came in later times to New Zealand. In this manner 

 communication being kept up from time to time, when perhaps the stepping 

 stones between different groups were less remote than now, the difference in 

 the dialects is less than otherwise might have been the case. 



2. ''On the Occurrence of Juncus lamprocarpus, Ehr., in New Zealand," 

 by Thomas Kirk, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 378.) 



3. "Description of a new Species of Isoetes" by Thomas Kirk, F.L.S. 

 (Transactions, p. 377.) 



Specimens of the plants described were on the table. 



4. ''On the Analogy of Cyanogen to Oxygen," by "William Skey, 

 Analyst to the Geological Survey of New Zealand. (Transactions, p. 379.) 



5. "On the Evolution of Heat during the Hydration of Clay-slate, Clay, 

 and Coal," by W. Skey. {Transactions, p. 384.) 



In this paper it is shown that clay-slate, and also anhydrous or dehydrated 

 coal or clay, liberate heat when placed in contact with water, and that this 

 heat is in greater part produced by the combination of water with the 

 substances enumerated. Also, that so-called hygroscopic water is chemically 

 combined with the material retaining it. It is further shown that in cases 

 where chemical substitution occurs in solid matters, heat is generated, and this 

 even in cases where the substituting body has a lower equivalent than that 

 substituted. 



6. "Notes on the Formation and Constitution of Torbanite (Bog-head 

 Coal) and similar Minerals," by W. Skey. {Transactions, p. 387.) 



The author proves that clay absorbs the colouring matter, and also 

 paraffin, from petroleums; and that this is a true chemical absorption. For 

 this and various other reasons connected with it, he suggests that Torbanite, 

 or the famous Torbane Hill mineral used in the manufacture of paraffin, has 

 been formed by the passage of petroleum through clay beds, the solid portion 

 of the oil having been retained by the clay, thus producing either bituminous 

 clay or Torbanite, according to the extent of the process. He believes the 

 ash of this mineral to be an essential part of it, not accidental as now 

 considered. He proposes to utilise this discovery by purifying coloured 

 kerosenes by means of clay, while the bituminous clay thus formed will be 

 useful either for making pigments or as fuel. 



