428 Proceedings. 



The Hon. Mr. Chamberlin mentioned, as a curious circumstance, that the Cape goos- 

 berry that used to be sold in Auckland for 3d. per pound, could not now be obtained for 

 less than Is. He considered it a most valuable fruit, but its cultivation did not seem to 

 be successfully achieved. 



Mr. Kirk said that the Cape goosberry would grow on any good soil that was suitable 

 to the tomato, and attributed its disappearance to the pheasant. It is not creditable to 

 New Zealand that there should be such an enormous importation of fresh and preserved 

 fruits from other countries, for with ordinary attention this colony should not only be 

 self-supporting but should also be a large exporter of the best kinds of fruit. He looked 

 forward to the successful cultivation of the orange on a large scale. The vine he did not 

 expect to be successful, as far as making wine was concerned, as there is a want of suffi- 

 cient sun-hght in New Zealand at the proper season. The author had not mentioned 

 several important plants, such as tobacco and chincona, from which quinine is made ; the 

 latter had been shown by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society to thrive well. He 

 thought it unfortunate that there was not an experimental botanical garden established 

 in New Zealand. Had such been the case ten or twelve years ago, the settlers might now 

 be in possession of several valuable sources of income. 



Dr. Hector thought that the author would feel gratified at the reception his paper 

 had met with. He did not agree with Mr. Kirk that there was a deficiency of sun-light, 

 as observations had shown that in the interior of both islands the sun had a power that 

 was unequalled in any other temperate climate, and that in consequence, even in the 

 interior District of Otago, light wines could be produced of excellent quahty. 



The President agreed with the last expressed opinion, and pointed out that the power 

 of the sun depended on the dryness of the atmosphere, and that, again, on the physical 

 conformation of the country, so that while some parts of New Zealand were unsuited to 

 perfecting the grape other districts were weU adapted for its cultivation. 



2. "On certain New Zealand plants that have been successfully culti- 

 vated in Scotland," by Mr. W. Gorrie, of Eait Hall ; communicated by 

 Dr. Hector. 



ABSTRACT. 



The author described the growth of many New Zealand plants, both useful and orna- 

 mental, that he had found would withstand the severity of the Scotch climate, and mentioned 

 the economic uses to which they could be applied. In particular he instanced the applica- 

 tion of the ribbon-wood as being better adapted for the manufacture of paper pulp than 

 any other plant at present used for the purpose. In concluding, the author suggested 

 that an association should be formed for the purpose of introducing useful New Zealand 

 plants for cultivation on the West Coast of Scotland. 



Dr. Hector was not aware that there was such a deficiency of New Zealand plants in 

 Scotland and England as the author stated. In Venice he had been pleased to find a 

 very interesting collection of the New Zealand vegetation, but the best he had seen was 

 in the Eoyal Society's gardens at Hobarton, which was probably due to the exertions of 

 Sir Frederick A. Weld, K.C.M.G., when Governor there. It was worthy of note that in 

 all the New Zealand plants of that collection the leaves were very much reduced in size, 

 no doubt owing to the effect of the change of chmate. 



Mr. Kirk said that the statement that the ribbon-wood was suitable for the manu- 

 facture of paper was new to him, and of great importance. 



3. "On the Auriferous Cements of the Mount Arthur district," by Mr, 

 J. Park, of the Geological Department, 



