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pi'oved tliat, notwitlistanding its granitic appearance, the rock to which 

 the gold, quartz was attached was only an altered form, of the sandstone, 

 as it contained traces of gi-aphite, and 91 per cent, of silica. This is 

 strongly in favour of the view that it is derived from the Ruahine range, 

 as the sandstones in them have been previously mistaken for granite. 



After alluding, to the recent increase in the activity of the volcanic 

 forces in the Tongariro district. Dr. Hector described the route to the 

 West Coast from the interior, and drew attention to maps and reports 

 by Mr. Geo. Swainson and Mr. Field. He also exhibited a new geological 

 map of the central district. 



The Hon. Mr. Fox considered that there was no doubt of the practi- 

 cability of a route to the Taupo district from the Wanganui coast. He 

 believed that the track through the bush country was almost completed, 

 and he was glad to find that no insurmountable obstruction would be 

 encountered beyond that point. 



In reply to Mr. Mantell, Dr. Hector stated that he did not think 

 that any rich auriferous quartz had been obtained in the Kaimanawa, 

 but that his opinion remained unchanged as to the probability that gold 

 would yet be met with in the district he had described. 



Second Meeting. June 25, 1870. 

 Hon. Mr. Mantell, F.G.S., President, in the chair. 



The election of the following new members was announced : — 

 Charles Graham, M.H.R., H. W. Young, E. H. Davis, F.G.S, F.C.S., 

 J. Duignan, George Moore, J. Bridges, Major Edwards, F. M. Ollivier. 



The resignation by Mr. E,. Pharazyn of the offices of Hon. Secretary 

 and Treasurer, was announced from the chair, and a vote of thanks for 

 his valuable services ordered to be recorded. 



The President then delivered the following 



ADDRESS. 



Gentlemen, — 



As the most appropriate introduction to the few general remarks 

 which I may have the honour of addressing to you, on the opening of our 

 session, I propose briefly and cursorily to advert to some of the more 

 important and interesting papers, which our branch of the ISTew Zealand 

 Institute has contributed to the volume of Transactions for the past year. 

 I am aware that an opinion is held by some high authorities on such 



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