520 Proceedings. 



not bemoan it, but rather make preparations for filling their place with trees 

 that would live and bear cultivation. He mentioned the district between 

 Papakura and the shores of the Manukau as well suited for planting on a large 

 scale. 



Mr. Barstow said that the destruction of forests was owing more to fire 

 than to the bushman's axe, and thought a law ought to be passed, inflicting 

 penalties upon persons endangering forests by lighting fires. He did not think 

 that the extinction of the native trees would happen with such rapidity as 

 Dr. Purchas imagined, if ordinary care was used. 



Mr. Lodder thought that the question of cutting timber out of season was 

 a most important one. The Legislature should be asked to prohibit mill- 

 owners from pursuing the practice. Under present circumstances it was 

 impossible to procure timber the quality and soundness of which could be 

 depended upon, and great loss was thereby occasioned, both to Government 

 and to private individuals. 



A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman for his address. 



Second Meeting. Is^ June, 1874. 

 The Eev. A. G. Purchas, M.R.C.S.E., in the chair. 

 New member. — D. M. Luckie, M.H.R. 

 The secretary read the list of donations to the library and museum. 



Mr. Heale drew the attention of the meeting to the urgent necessity 

 existing for increased accommodation for the museum and library. He 

 briefly sketched the outlines of several plans which had been under the 

 consideration of the council, and invited an expression of opinion as to the 

 best course to be adopted. 



A long discussion ensued, which was at length adjourned without any 

 definite conclusion being arrived at. 



1. <'0n Probability," by the Rev. R. Kidd, LL.D. (Appendix.) 



Mr. Adams took exception to several of the statements made by Dr. Kidd. 

 He particularly objected to the use of the term "science of probability," 

 from the fact that however high a degree of probability might belong to a 

 proposition, yet it could never reach a scientific certainty. He argued that 

 the term " science" could not legitimately be applied to a study the results of 

 which were necessarily so vague and uncertain. 



2. " On the Fertilization of Acianthus and Cyrtostilis," by T. F. Cheeseman, 

 F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 349.) 



Coloured drawings of the species described were exhibited. 



