Wellwf/ton Philosophical Society. 527 



Institute, further works on results of the Novara expedition, and survey and weather 

 reports from the Royal Society of New South Wales. 



1. " Ou a peculiar Metliod of Arrow Propulsion as observed amongst 

 the Maoris," by Coleman Pliillips. {Transactions, p. 97.) 



The author illustrated the method described by a model. 



The President, in inviting discussion on this paper, regretted that Mr. AVhite had 

 not been able to attend the meeting, as he felt sure that that gentleman would have 

 afforded interesting information on the subject. Mr. White hoped to be able to deposit a 

 large collection of such weapons in the Museum. 



Mr. Carruthers said the absence of the bow among the Maoris was certainly curious ; 

 but the same might be said of the Malay race, who were familiar with the smelting of 

 iron, while the Maoris knew nothing of it. It was proof that in the migration of the 

 Maori race certain arts were lost. 



Mr. Grace, who had been in New Zealand from his youth, said that the bow and 

 arrow was a common weapon in the interior with the Maori youths, and he believed that 

 it was originally used by the natives. It was, however, found by them to be an incon- 

 venient weapon in the bush, and hence their reason for adopting the plan mentioned by 

 Mr. Phillips. The Maoris scarcely ever threw a spear by hand ; they used the string 

 twisted round. a fork in the spear. The notch mentioned by the author was new to him. 



2. " On Grasses," by S. M. Curl, M.D. {Transactions, p. 845.) 



This was a continuation of a paper read before the Society last year by the same 

 author.* 



The Hon. Mr. Holmes considered this a most important paper, as on the proper 

 cultivation of grasses would depend in a great measure the future prosperity of the 

 colony. At the present time a very small variety were grown, and not sufficient to last 

 throughout the year for pasture ; the principal grasses in use being the ryegrass {Lolkuu 

 perenne), cocksfoot {Dactylis glomerata), timothy {Phleiim pratense), Dutch clover 

 {Trifolium repens), red clover {Trifoliiim pratense), and the cow-grass {Trifollum medvuvi). 

 Of the latter the cow-grass was the most valuable. He believed that some of those 

 mentioned by Dr. Curl were among the best that could be introduced. He had himself 

 two consignments on their way to New Zealand, of about twenty-two diiferent varieties, 

 that he believed would be of peculiar value to this country. If they proved successful, it 

 would make a vast improvement in the permanent pasture of the colony. With regard 

 to ergot, he did not consider it peculiar to the ryegrass, nor did its presence indicate any 

 falling off in the quality of the grass, and there is no reason why the grass should fail in 

 consequence of it. As an instance that nature had made provision for a great variety, it 

 might be mentioned that a square foot of ground that had not been broken up for years, 

 was found on examination to contain seventeen different varieties. 



The President stated that the Canterbury Society had offered a prize for information 

 regarding ergot. But it seemed strange that the valuable information on this subject 

 afforded by Dr. Berggrenf should have been entirely overlooked. He thought that by 

 good draining ergot might be kept down ; excessive moistixre was favourable to it. He 

 considered Dr. Curl's paper of great importance. 



♦ Trans. N.Z. Inst., IX., 531. t Trans. N.Z. Inst., VII., 488, 



