24 



most multifarious occupations can find leisure for rational recreation and 

 mental improvement. Do not believe that the acquisition of scientific 

 knowledge will obstruct your world by prosperity or that it is incom- 

 patible with your worldly pui-suits. Rely iipon it, you cannot sharpen 

 your intellectual faculties, you cannot widen the range of your know- 

 ledge, without becoming more skilful and successful in the business or 

 profession in which you are engaged." 



1. Kotice of a Meteor observed by Mi-. E. Stowe. 



The Meteor was seen at Wellington, at 5.19 p.m. on Tuesday, 

 May 31, 1870. Direction, S.E. by S. Altitude, about 50°. Travelled 

 (iu slight ascending curve) from left to right at right angles to a line 

 drawn fi-om eye of observer to S.E. by S. Light, brilliant white, accom- 

 panied by train of sparks, presenting exactly the appearance of a rochet 

 %f)hen high in air, and to all appearance was travelling at about a similar 

 rate. Disappeared suddenly, at about the same altitude as ■ when first 

 observed. Seemed visible for a period (approximately) of five seconds. 

 There had been a fine sunset, and the greater part of the sky, including 

 the whole area of the meteor's path, was perfectly clear. Size of the 

 meteor, very large,^four times that of Venus. 



2. "■ On a specimen of a New Zealand Rat," by W. Buller, 

 E.Gr.S. (See Transactions.) This paper gave the description of a 

 specimen of the true native rat, or Kiore, which was exhibited. These 

 rats are now veiy rare, but this particular specimen had been identified 

 by the Maoris at Wanganui, as the true native rat which at one time 

 formed a principal article of food among their ancestors. The author 

 pointed out that in its appearance it strongly resembled the ancient black 

 rat of Britain, which had also become extinct through the introduction 

 into the British Islands of the brown rat. 



Dr. Hector exhibited a drawing, by Captain Hutton, of a supposed 

 native rat, that was deposited in the Auckland Museum in 1853, and 

 pointed out that it difiered materially from IMr. BuUer's specimen. 



Mi\ Travers, from enquiries he had made, doubted that any native 

 pow living could identify the real Maori rat, and was inclined to doubt 

 if there was really a specimen of it. 



The President said that in the South Island the native rat had sur- 

 vived longer than in the North, and asked Mr. Paterson, the Native 

 Member, in the House of Representatives, for Kaiapoi, if he could 

 identify the rat. 



Mr. Paterson said the old people used to eat them, but he had never 

 seen one. 



