620 Proceedings. 



specimens from reefs in the district ; of these only six had proved auriferous, varying 

 from mere traces up to ISdwts. per ton of gold, the richest being from Wainuiomata, the 

 same locahty from which Mr. Crawford's specimen had come. In his former communica- 

 tion he had warned prospectors against the solid quartz reefs which traverse the sand- 

 stones and slate, as the gold at Makara and Terawiti appears to occur in jointed 

 sandstones chiefly as dendritic films. 



4. "Notice regarding the Occurrence of the Tidal Wave of 11th May, 

 1877," by J. F. Martin, of the Bay of Islands; communicated by Capt. 

 E. A. Edwin, E.N. 



ABSTRACT. 



Patrick McAlister, of Manowara, in the Bay of Islands, tells me that he and his 

 brother loaded a boat last night (Thursday, 10th May) and pulled her up on the bank of 

 a creek for safety. On going to her at five o'clock this morning the creek and a mud-flat 

 that extends some distance from the shore was found to be quite dry ; the tide, however, 

 was a long distance above high water-mark. While waiting they heard a loud noise as 

 of thunder and saw a large wave approaching, whereupon they ran towards the house 

 calling upon the inmates to leave. The wave, however, reached the house as soon as 

 they did, and surrounded it to the depth of about a foot. After this the water quickly 

 subsided. 



No such event had been noticed at Eussell, but Captain Farquhar, of the s.s. "Zona," 

 said he had a similar experience this morning, at Waitangi, on the opposite side of this 

 bay. This morning he went ashore, the tide falling at the time. Soon after landing a 

 large wave rushed in, and deposited the boat and a sailor, Avho had gone to put her 

 afloat, above high water-mark. 



Mr. Thomas .Joyce, of Pahia, reports extraordinary tides. 



About midday I observed the water at the wharf fall over fom' feet in ten minutes, 

 and in about fifteen minutes afterwards it rose over six feet. The American whaler 

 " Gazelle," at anchor in twenty feet of water, was speedily aground, aizd soundings 

 showed only twelve feet of water alongside her. Several vessels at anchor were swinging 

 with then- bows in opposite du'ections, while others were revolving in a circle. 



There v.'as nothing particular to note at high water, which occurred at 4 p.m., but at 

 8 p.m. the tide was high again. 



Maoris from some of the islands in the bay tell me that at about 5 p.m. the water 

 rose over eight feet in as many minutes. It rushed in several times at intervals of about 

 twenty minutes, and continued rising and falHng rapidly until late in the evening. 



About the same hour Mr. Ford, of Eussell, went across the bay to a place called 

 Wairoa, and while there a huge wave suddenly swept both his boats into a paddock. The 

 water then rose and fell rapidly several times, but not so high as before. 



Captain Charles Dane, of the schooner " Elsinore," from the loading ground (Te 

 Wharau), a branch of the bay, says that he noticed the tide ebb and flow seven times 

 during the day. 



The general idea is that these disturbances resulted from a very heavy earthquake to 

 the eastward. 



The author also records that on Sunday, 23rd July, 1876, at 10 p.m., the tide rose at 

 Eussell four feet above high-water mark within twenty minutes, following a heavy N.E. 

 gale. 



The President said he had observed this occurrence in Wellington harbour, and that 

 he believed Dr. IlecLor had taken observations of the rise and fall. Some years ago a 



