85 



Mr. Stewart explained many of the points of difference and resem- 

 blance between tlie Artesian wells of London and of Paris. 



Mr. D. Hay made interesting observations respecting the water 

 supply frequently derived from scoria basins. He referred to a well 

 sunk only a depth of 14 feet, in the Mount Eden Stockade, and which 

 yields a good supply of excellent water. 



Mr. Baber remarked on the probability that large bodies of water 

 sometimes rose to a considerable height on the hills, and that these 

 reservoirs existed even under the bed of the sea. He instanced a small 

 island near Mangarei, on which was a spring yielding far more water 

 than could possibly be furnished by the entire rainfall of the whole 

 district. 



The President stated that the old tertiary beds had not been so 

 extensively bi-oken up by volcanic disturbances as was generally sup- 

 posed, consequently the water-bed had been less disturbed ; in some 

 localities the erupted matter facilitated the collection of water. 



It was announced that papers read at any meeting of the Institute 

 would remain open for discussion at the next following meeting. 



Fifth Meeting. October 10, 1870. 

 Rev. Dr. Purchas, President, in the chair. 



The election of the following new members was announced : — 

 Robert Mair, Whangarei ; Charles Tothill, Auckland ; T. F. S. Tinne, 

 Auckland; Alexander Fox, M.R.C.P., Shortland ; G. H. Davie, Gra- 

 ham stown ; J. R. Nicholson, M.D., Onehunga; James Allen, Auckland; 

 and The Hon. Julius Yogel. 



A list of donations to the Museum and Library was read by the 

 Secretary. 



The Secretary drew attention to some objects from the Collection 

 illustrative of Economic Botany, recently received from the Colonial 

 Museum at Wellington ; especially to some remarkable Legumes and 

 Millets from Central Africa, etc. ; and to sjjecimens of the curious 

 Alpine Composite plants Raoulia inammillaris, Haastia Sinclcdrii, and 

 Raoulia eximia, — the so-called Vegetable Sheep of the Southern Alps. 



1. " On the Occurrence of Native Mercury at the Bay of Islands," 

 by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S. (See Transactions.) 



