Auckland Institute. 551 



2. " Notes oil the recent Earthquake Wave, as observed at the Bay of 

 Islands," by James Macfarlane. 



At Manawaora Bay, at 5 a.m. on May lltli, the sea rose six feet above the level of 

 the highest spring tides, covering several stretches of low-lying land at the head of the 

 bay, and causing considerable alarm to the settlers. About the same time the wave was 

 felfc very strongly in the Waitangi Eiver. Some small cutters that were beating up the 

 river had to drop anchor to avoid being washed ashore. At Eussell, the tide ebbed and 

 ilowed at least seven times during the day, at irregular intervals. At Wairoa, just 

 opposite Kussell, at about 4 p.m., a wave rushed in with great force, covering at least ten 

 yards of the strand above high-water mark ; Mr. Ford's whale-boat was washed up by it 

 and left high and dry. This wave receded immediately, but shortly afterwards again 

 advanced, and remained at the same level as before for over ten minutes. During this 

 time a large boat was loaded with potatoes, afloat all the time, and was just ready to 

 shove off when the water again receded, leaving the boat agrotind several yards higher up 

 than any boat has been in the recollection of Captain Haughton, who has been at the 

 Bay of Islands since 1840. After this the tide came in and went out repeatedly, but 

 never reached its former height. 



3. "Notes ou the Earthquake Wave as felt at Clisborne," by Captam 

 Crisp, Harbour-master. 



The first wave felt at Gisborne occurred between midnight and 2 a.m. on the morn- 

 ing of May 11th, and came in but slightly. Another wave came in about 4 a.m., rising 

 about two feet. It being then high water, it had the appearance" of an extraordinary 

 swelling of the tide or some distant storm-wave. At about 7 a.m., however, when the 

 tide had considerably receded, a very heavy wave rushed in with terrific force, and in the 

 space of seven or eight minutes rose perpendicularly as many feet, and then as quickly 

 receded, carrying with it about fifty yards of a sandy point in the harbour. No noise or 

 any other warning was given of its approach. Similar waves occm-red at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 

 12-40 p.m., and 2-30 p.m. on the same day, each rising from two to three feet. On the 

 morning of Saturday, the 12th, I was under the impression that the tidal disturbances 

 had ceased, but later in the day they commenced again, "and kept on at intervals of 

 irregular duration until the morning of Monday, the 14th of May. During the whole 

 period of the disturbances it was extremely diffici^lt to know anything about the regular 

 time of high water. It will also be observed that at first there was some little regularity 

 in the intervals, but later on this disappeared. 



4. "Description of a new Mollusk from Auckland Harbour," by T. F. 

 Cheesemaii, E.L.S. 



5. "Descriptions of now Species of Goleoptera,'" by Capt. T. Broun, 

 This paper dealt exclusively with beetles of the sub-family Colydiidce, of which one 



new genus and sixteen new species were described. 



Third Meeting, ^dnl July, 1877. 



Pi. C. Barstow, President, in the chair. 



New Members.— K. Aitken, C.E., J. 0. Barnard, G. Black, W. H. 

 Colbeck, H. E. Cotton, W. Elliott, J. James, W. McLaughlin, J. Howard, 

 D. H. Mackenzie, G. Wade, F. Larkins, J, Newman, A. Whitaker, 



