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meeting of the present session, differed from the rat described by Mr. 

 Martin (so far as could be judged from so bi-ief an account), in the much 

 larger size of the body, greater length of the tail, and absence of docility. 

 The large size of the ear was a characteristic of both forms. It was 

 worthy of remark that the Omaha variety appeared to live on good 

 terms with the ordinary Norway rat. 



Captain Hutton said that different species and varieties of rat 

 inhabiting New Zealand had not received sufficient attention. It had 

 been stated that the English black rat {Mus rattus) was found here, but he 

 thought the statement had not been proved, as the Norway rat i^Mus 

 decumanus) varied greatly in colour. He also considered it very doubtful 

 if any indigenous rat had been found in New Zealand. Sir George 

 Grey had informed him that he had sent three specimens of the Maori 

 rat to Dr. Gray, of the British Museum, and that Dr. Gray had stated, 

 he could detect no difference between them and a rat inhabiting the 

 Polynesiin Islands. Taking into consideration the absence of any 

 knowledge of the fauna of New Zealand before its colonization by the 

 Maoris, in conjunction with the fact of the so-called Maori rat having 

 been pronounced identical with a rat found in the countries from which 

 the Maoris are supposed to have migrated, it appeared to him exceedingly 

 rash to suppose that an indigenous rat had ever existed in these islands, 

 esj^ecially in view of the fact that no indigenous rat had yet been found 

 in any oceanic island. 



7. Artesian Wells. Dr. Purchas stated that since the last meeting 

 he had made enquiry respecting the Artesian well sunk by Messrs. 

 Thornton, Smith, and Firth, at their mill in Queen-street. The principal 

 supply was obtained at a depth of 112 feet; an additional supply was 

 tapped at a depth of 180 feet. The borings were discontinued at the depth 

 of 480 feet without a further supply having been struck. The water 

 was perfectly clear, with a slight but not unpleasant chalybeate taste and 

 smell, and filled the pipes to overflow, a little below high-water mark. 

 Fine sand was brought up from each water-bed, and required to be 

 occasionally removed from the pipes. 



Mr. Baber hoped that from the encouraging statement just made, 

 the Provincial Government would be induced to direct experiments to 

 be made, to test the possibility of a siipply for the city being procured 

 from this source. 



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