35 



that tlie ends of tlie rails were coutiuually springing uj) with tlie 

 weight of the engine going across. The ends were then fastened 

 down with metal plates ; but they then split and got soft. In a couple 

 of years they became so crushed as to be useless, and he did not believe 

 there was the slightest vestige of them now remaining. 



In answer to a question from the Chair, respecting the eruption of 

 Tongariro, Mr. Cox said although he had just come down the coast, he 

 had not been within sixty miles of Tongariro. At that distance, however, 

 he had heard the rumbling of its artillery^ and had seen the reflection in 

 the sky to the north of the Mohaka river. 



Dr. Hector said if all be true that is said about the eruption, it is 

 the first instance, within the recollection of the Maoris, of an eruption 

 of lava, though eruptions of steam and clouds of ashes had been common 

 enough . 



Several specimens of the Elephant Fish {Callorhynchus) were 

 exhibited by Dr. Hector, — one of which showing the young fish enclosed 

 in the egg had been recently picked up on the coast. 



The discussion on flax was resumed. Dr. Hector reporting the progress 

 made by the Commission during the week, the full particulars of which 

 will shortly be published. To make the tests more satisfactory, the 

 commissioners had made an improvement in the arrangement for testing 

 the strength of samples, that was more satisfactory than the mode 

 adopted at first ; and as a comparative test of the relative streng-th of 

 fibres, nothing could have been fairer. As before, the Maori dressed 

 flax retained its superiority in point of strength. Acting on a suggestion 

 of Mr. Davis (an assistant), Dr. Hector said he was experimenting to 

 ascertain if atmospheiic pressure was not sufficient to compel the lateral 

 adhesion of the flax fibre after the gum had been released. Some doubts 

 were entertained at last meeting that the gum could be released without 

 detriment to the fibre, as the ultimate threads of the leaf are ascertained, 

 by microscopical examination, not to be more than two inches long. 

 So far the experiment promised successfully. 



A sample of fiax jDrepared by a new process of Mr. Plimmer's was 

 also exhibited. The object of the improvement is to prepare flax for a 

 subsequent retting process by dividing the fibre without crushing it. 

 This is sought to be done by putting the leaves through rollers laterally, 

 the usual plan being endwise. In going through, the leaf is considerably 

 widened by the fibres being divided. The samples exhibited were on a 

 small scale ; and some doubt was expressed whether the result would be 

 equally satisfactory when tried on a large scale with whole leaves. 



