411 



Chickens, but they were unable to find any on the Hen. He thought it not improbable 

 that those eight were the only plants of the kind in existence, and they were 'situated in 

 such a position as to render them all liable to be destroyed by a fire, were such an accident 

 to arise in consequence of fishermen touching at the island. 



(2.) "On the introduction of the English and Chinese Pheasants into the Province of 

 Auckland," by Captain Hutton, F.G.S. (See ante, p. 80.) 



The Rev. T. Bruce inquired whether any attempt had ever been made to introduce 

 the English pheasant into that part of the province lying south of Auckland, by conveying 

 birds from Mangonui and liberating them in the neighbourhood of Auckland. 



The President could not answer the inquiry of Mr. Bruce from his own personal 

 knowledge, but he thought the subject was one which gave rise to several interesting 

 questions. For instance, they had found from experience that, although the English 

 pheasant bred much quicker than the Chinese when in confinement, when the birds were 

 set at liberty the reverse was the case. Possibly they might a.t some future time have 

 papers laid before them by other members which would deal with these questions. 



(3.) "On the decrease of Honey in the Auckland Province," by R. Todd. Extract 

 from a letter to the President : — "The natives inform me that it is no use looking for 

 honey in the bush, that the nests contain no honey now-a-clays. Can this be that the 

 nature of the bee is changed — that finding flowers can be had at all seasons they lay up 

 no store for the winter ? The kakas, or parrots, and also the kakarikis, or small green 

 parrots, are now very scarce, and rarely seen . The natives tell me the bees are driving 

 them away by usurping their ruas, or habitats, and that consequently the kakas are 

 decreasing. " 



Captain Hutton could not agree with the conclusions contained in the letter. He waa 

 doubtful, in the first place, whether honey was becoming more scarce in the bush, but, 

 even were such the case, as the honey was stored for the young he did not think that 

 the bees would trust to so uncertain a supply as they would be able to obtain from the 

 flowers in winter. He was not quite sure whether the bees did not hybernate in winter. 

 With regard to the bird mentioned by Mr. Todd, he had known instances where the birda 

 mentioned were most plentiful during a season when honey was also abundant. 



The President observed that bees certainly did not hybernate here during the winter, 

 as on fine days during that season he had seen them buzzing about as much as in the 

 middle of summer. He thought it was doubtful whether the bird spoken of by Mr. Todd 

 could be called a honey-eating bird, for although it certainly did eat honey he had known 

 in the South instances of whole fields of corn being stripped by it, and sometimes even 

 the straw thatch torn off barns by flocks of the birds. 



(4.) "On Artificial Stone," by Dr. Purchas. The author observed, that some time ago 

 he had written to the Company which had been started in England for the preparation of 

 artificial stone, making some inqifiries regarding the solution required for the hardening 

 of the material. The stone was coming into great use, and had been found much more 

 durable and waterproof than brick. In reply he had received full information regarding 

 the process, and would like a sub-committee appointed to investigate the matter, in 

 conjunction with himself, with a view to bringing it under the notice of the Society. He 

 had at first written inquiring into the system for the purpose of adapting it to the iron 

 sand ; but as the question of working the sand had been practically settled, it was not of 

 much value for that purpose then. It might, however, be applied for the preservation of 

 some public buddings, such as the Supreme Court, where he understood the Bath stone 

 was crumbling away. The damp brick houses might also be improved by a coating of the 

 solution. He had applied some of the solution to a small quantity of iron sand, a specimen 

 of which he had brought for the inspection of the members, and from which it would be 

 seen that the sand could be hardened. 



The President thought the matter was more one for the consideration of the council 

 of the Society than for a general meeting. 



Third Meeting. July 5, 1869. 

 T. B. Gillies, President, in the chair. 



The names of the following new members were announced : — Messrs. J. Boberton, 

 J. S. Macfarlane, E. Wayte, F. E. Manning, D. O'Keefe, A. Lascelles, T. Morrin, 

 G. M. Mitford, J. A. Wilson, J. M'Effer Shera, Major Mair. 



A list of donations to the Museum was read by the Secretary. 



Memoranda respecting the Tidal Phenomena observed in New Zealand in August 

 last, compiled by Mr. J. M. Wayland, were read by the Secretary. (See Vol. i. p. 101.) 



Dr. Purchas remarked that shoi'tly after the time it occurred some very interesting 

 accounts of the tidal wave appeared in the newspapers, and it would it be well if the 

 Secretary could obtain these also, and preserve them along with Mr. Wayland's 

 memoranda. 



