WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



FiEST Meeting. 21st July, 1877. 



W. T. L. Travers, M.H.E., F.L.S., President, in the chair. 



Xeiv x¥m5^rs.— Cliaiies O'Neill, C.E. ; J. P. Maxwell, A.I.C.E. ; Ebenezer 

 Fox; Edward Thorley Noakes ; H. S. Mackellar ; C. P. Knorpp, A.I.C.E.; 

 the Hon. W. D. H. BaiUie, M.L.C. 



1. The President, in opening the proceedings, apologized for the absence of Dr. 

 BuUer, who, in consequence of engagements in Napier, was unable to be present at that 

 meeting. He then proceeded to say that in bringing under the notice of the meeting the 

 papers which were to be read that evening, he would make a few remarks as to tha 

 progress made by the society during the past year. Having learned during the early part 

 of the week that Dr. BuUer would be unable to attend, he had entertained hopes that he 

 should be able to put together a few notes of what had been accomplished by the society 

 during that period ; but unfortunately engagements of a professional character prevented 

 him from doing that which he had desired to do, and he had to trust to a few meagre 

 notes of what had been done during the last session, not only by this society, but by all 

 the Incorporated Societies in New Zealand. He then entered on the subjects of his 

 address, first referring to the very considerable assistance obtained through the labours 

 of the Geological Department for ascertaining the mineral resources of the colony, and 

 then alluding to the importance of the discoveries made in reference to the races which 

 had inhabited New Zealand since the time when any record could be obtained of the 

 country. A work on the subject had been recently published, a copy of which would be 

 a valuable addition to the librai'y of the Institute. He next referred to papers contri- 

 buted by different members of the society on a variety of subjects, and in his concluding 

 remarks said he was glad to observe a growing interest in scientific examinations. 

 He then briefly referred to the papers to be read that evening, which were of a very 

 interesting character. 



2. On the motion of the Hon. Mr. Mantell, seconded by Capt. Edwin, a vote of 

 thanks was given to Dr. BuUer for the able manner in which he presided over the 

 meetings of the society as president during the jpast two years ; and also to Mr. Travers 

 for the address he had just given in opening the meeting. 



3. " On Gold in the Wellington Provincial District," by J. C. Crawford, 

 F.G.S. {Transactions, p. 477.) 



The Hon. Mr. Mantell, who read this paper for the author, said he would like some 

 explanation regarding the presence of sulphate of iron. 



Dr. Hector stated that there must have been some mistake, probably kon bi-sulphide 

 was meant. He reminded the society that a great deal had been done in prospecting the 

 country referred to by Mr. Crawford, and that in 1869 he (Dr. Hector) had communicated 

 to the society the results obtained. Eighteen analyses had been made of qiiartz 



