434 Proceedings. 



distances below the present termination of the glaciers. In remarking on the 

 features connected with the New Zealand glaciers, Mr. Fox alluded to the 

 remarkable fact that on the eastern slopes the New Zealand Alps terminated 

 at a much higher altitude than on the western slopes, and that the glaciers on 

 the east carried downward large masses of rocks, while the slopes of those of 

 the west were composed of clear blue ice, from which little refuse or debris 

 was carried down. Mr. Fox next made an interesting comparison between 

 the glaciers of New Zealand and Europe, pointing out that while in the case 

 of the latter no vegetation other than the common fir-tree was to be seen in 

 their vallies, those of the West Coast of New Zealand were invariably 

 beautified by a most luxuriant semi-tropical vegetation of flowering plants and 

 tree-ferns. 



An interesting discussion ensued upon a point to which Mr. Fox made 

 allusion in his concluding remarks, that of the peculiarity of the glaciers 

 always remaining at the same temperature of 32°, a fact which was rendered 

 more peculiar by the circumstance that if a mass of ice were brought from 

 any other place it would speedily melt in the heat of the sun, while the com- 

 position of the glacier would remain in its frozen state. 



The President said that New Zealand presented a fine field for alpine 

 exploration, and described four different groups of the Southern Alps from 

 which glaciers radiate, showing that the glaciers are not now of the greatest 

 magnitude in the furthest south, although they evidently had been so formerly. 

 He considered that the reduction of the area of mountain top above the snow 

 line by the cutting back of the glaciers was one of the chief causes of their 

 disappearance. He pointed out that it was hardly correct to say a glacier 

 retired from its moraine, as is frequently done. The fact is that in some years 

 it melts more rapidly than in others, and on the West Coast these years of 

 greatest waste would always, owing to the same causes, be the years when 

 there would be least supply, but there could be no retraction of the mass of ice. 



This led to some discussion, in which Capt. Hutton, Rev. Mr. Andrew, 

 Bishop Hadfield, the Hon. Mr. Hart, and the Hon. Capt. Eraser took part, 

 at the conclusion of which a vote of thanks was unanimously voted to Mr. 

 Fox. 



2. ''On New Zealand Lake Pas," by the Rev. Richard Taylor, F.G.S. 

 (See Transactions, p. 101.) 



3. " On the Life and Times of To Rauparaha," Chapter V., by W. T. L. 

 Travers, F.L.S. (See Transactions, p. 62.) 



