552 Proceedings. 



1. " Early Kecords of Auckland," by His Honour Mr. Justice Gillies. 



ABSTRACT. 



The ■wiiter observed that the preservation of the early records of a country was of 

 very great importance, as personal reminiscences, however valuable, are seldom entirely 

 trustworthy, being unconsciously tinged by the views of the writer, or the part which he 

 took in the events which he narrates. A great mass of the early official records were 

 lost in the wreck of the " White Swan," many years ago ; but there no doubt exist in the 

 IDOSsession of private individuals many records of the early history of the colony, which 

 are of little value to the individual,- but which, in the course of a few years, will become 

 of great interest and value to the community at large, if they were only collected together. 

 The author stated that it was in the hope of stimulating others who possess such records 

 to bring them together, and deposit them in the Museum where they would be accessible 

 to the public, that he had prepared his paper ; and as a first contribution towards this 

 end, he now presented to the Institute a series of 5i documents, all more or less bearing 

 on the early history of the colony. 



2. " On the Presence of Nickel in the Auckland District," by J. A. Pond. 

 [Transactions, p. 454.) 



3. " Pieason in the Lower Animals," by F. Gr. Ewington. 



A discussion arose, in which Dr. Purchas, Col. Haultain, Mr. Moss, and others took 

 part. 



Fourth Meeting. 20f/i August, 1877. 



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

 New Members. — G. B. Beere, "W. Buchanan, P. Darby, W. Dowden, T. 

 Montgomery, E. F. Sandes, T. G. Sandes, A. T. Urquhart, D. C. Wilson. 



The Secretary read the hst of donations to the Museum and Library since the last 

 meeting. 



1. " Note on the Discovery of Moa Eemains at Awitu," by A. Mactier. 



abstract. 



The remains in question, consisting of a pair of tibiae and metatarsi, together with a 

 few phalanges of the foot, were stated to have been found while deepening a drain running 

 through a small swamp of about 200 acres in extent, situated immediately behind the 

 sand-hills on the West Coast, and about six miles to the south of the entrance to the 

 Manukau Harbour. The bones were embedded in a blue sandy clay, about six feet from 

 the surface. The swamp was stated to have been partly drained by the Maoris at some 

 remote period, for the lines of then- old drains could still be traced in some places. 



Mr. Cheeseman said that the bones appeared to be referable to Professor Owen's 

 Dinornis giganteus. 



2. " Notes on a Deposit in the Shaft of the Pumping Association, 

 Grahamstown, Thames," by G. Black. {Transactions, p. 456.) 



A long discussion then ensued, in which Messrs Stewart, Goodall, J. B. Eussell, and 

 Dr. Purchas took part. 



8. "Descriptions of new Species of Coleojjtera," by Capt. T. Broun. 



This paper contained descriptions of new species belonging to the families Anthri- 

 Udce, Aphodiadce, and Bhysodidcs. 



