WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 



FmsT Meeting, lAth June, 1879. 



A. K. Newman, M.B., President, in the chair. 



New Members. — A. S. Birch, G. Allen, K. Lee, Hugh Pollen, — Ed- 

 wards, J. Haj^ward, C. E. Zohrab, C, Callis, E. S. Waterhouse, T. C. 

 Eichmond, E. T. Holmes, E. Lee (of Napier), D. Mills, Dr. Collins. 



1. "Account of two Journeys to the Summit of Mount Euapehu," by 

 G, Beetham, M.H.E. 



ABSTRACT. 



The author graphically described the beauty and grandeur of the scenery 

 observed on the journey, and the difficulties and dangers encountered in 

 endeavouring to reach the highest point. An excellent model of the 

 mountain was exhibited, by means of which the author was enabled to 

 point out clearly the exact route taken, and the various points of interest 

 met with during the ascent. Specimens of the different rocks collected 

 were also on the table. On the second ascent the author was accompanied 

 by Mr. J. P. Maxwell. 



Mr. Maxwell gave some additional information regarding the natiare of the country 

 passed through, and also explained fully the model of the mountain before the meeting. 



2. "On Volcanoes and Geysers in New Zealand," by William Collie. 

 (Transactions, p. 418.) 



Dr. Hector, after reading this paper, said that Mr. Beetham's paper contained many 

 interesting facts, and to that gentleman the credit was due of being the first to organize 

 a party to ascend this mountain. He himself had travelled all round the base of the moun- 

 tain, but had no opportunity of making the ascent, so that he could not speak with any 

 certainty of the formation, but he considered it one of the earliest volcanoes in the North 

 Island. He gave an account of his own ascent of Tongariro on the 23rd November, 

 1867, and explained that the active steam eruptions on the side of the mountain were 

 due to the percolation of water from a cold lake on the summit, a sketch of which he 

 exhibited. 



Mr. Travers would like to know something about the vegetation met with on such a 

 journey, as Dr. Hector gave a list of plants differing from alpine plants in the South 

 Island. 



Dr. Hector then exhibited on the screen with a lantern, views of both Ruapehu and 

 Tongariro. 



