150 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



Thames ; but this is the only instance of this tree being found so far south, 

 and I am inclined to think this to be its utmost south range; the genus, and 

 indeed the whole Natural Order, being tropical plants. The Maoris informed 

 Mr. Locke that another tree of this kind grew also at Kaiawa, a little further 

 north, and that anciently the fruit, or seed, was used as beads for necklaces : 

 for which purpose, and by a rude people, they were pretty well adapted, 

 from their uniform size, and possessing an agreeable glossy appearance, and 

 having a small hole at the end in the test.a, which might also have given 

 bkth to the notion of boring and threading. 



As I find that Sir J. D. Hooker, in describing this genus, Sapota, has 

 spoken of its fruit as a " berry with one nut-like seed,"* I will also give my 

 short description of it, as written on detecting it (a second time), 36 years 

 ago ; as such may be of service to future botanical collectors and observers : 



" On the high south headland of Whangaruru Bay, near which we landed, 

 I discovered a clump of small trees bearing a handsome fruit of the size of 

 a large walnut. Each fruit contained three large shining seeds, somewhat 

 crescent-shaped, and having the front as it were scraped away. Its leaves 

 are oblong, glabrous, and much veined, and its young branches lactescent. 

 I have little doubt but that this tree will be found to rank in the Natural 

 Order Sapotaeem, and probably under the genus Achras. The natives call it 

 Tawaapou."f 



This, also, was its name as given by the Maoris of Tolaga Bay to Mr. 

 Locke. 



Art. IX. — Notes on an ancient Manufactory of Stone Implements at the mouth 



of the Otokai Creek, Brighton, Ota go. 

 By Prof. Julius von Haast, Ph.D., P.K.S., Director of the Canterbury 



Museum. 

 [Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 1th August, 1879.] 

 Amongst the many localities where traces of the former occupation by a 

 native race are open to our inspection, there is one of some interest situated 

 on the small islet at the mouth of the Otokai Creek, Brighton, Otago, upon 

 which I wish to offer a few observations. 



This islet is surrounded by the sea during high water, but it is evident, 

 when the natives were here encamped, that the narrow channel now cutting 

 it off from the mainland did not then exist. 



* Handbook, N. Z. Flora, p. 183. 

 t Vide Tasmanian Joiornal of Natural Science, (1843) Vol. II. p. 299. 



