424 Proceedings. 



3. Some very interesting exhibits of iron ores, recently discovered by the Geological 

 Sui'vey Department, were on the table, two of which Dr. Hector considered deserved 

 special mention in connection with efforts that the Government is making to encoiurage 

 the manufacture of iron in the Colony. Both the ores were discovered by Mr. A. McKay, 

 of the Geological Department, during the progress of the survey in the past year. One 

 is a brown haematite containing 54 p. c. of metallic iron, which occurs in a bed '60 feet 

 thick, but is reported to expand in places to several hundred feet. It is associated with 

 crystalline limestone at the base of the carboniferous formation, and extends for many 

 miles through the western ranges towards the source of the Takaka Eiver. The speci- 

 mens obtained were from the surface, and deeper down it most probably passes into red 

 hffimatite, a much richer ore that contains 70 p. c. of metal. This is, no doubt, the con- 

 tinuation of the same band of iron ore that reaches the sea at Parapara. The other form 

 of ore was discovered at Jenkins' coal mine, close to the town of Nelson, and is spathic 

 ore, or carbonate of iron containing 40 p. c. of metal, in a form of combination that is 

 very favourable for smelting, being in consequence one of the most valuable description 

 of iron ores known. It was not found in situ, as the workings are abandoned, but it has 

 been thrown out with the debris from the coal pit in considerable quantity, its valuable 

 qualities having hitherto escaped notice. 



4. Specimens of 17 new species of grasses, described in a paper by Mr. Buchanan, 

 were laid on the table. 



Second Meeting. 26th July, 1879. 

 Martin Chapman, Vice-president, in the chair. 

 Neiv Members. — H. W. Saxton, of New Plymouth ; W. H. Holmes. 



1. " On the Forest Question in New Zealand," by A. Lecoy, LL.B., 

 M.A. [Transactions, p. 3). 



The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse thought the author too sanguine as to the success of such 

 an undertaking in New Zealand at present, at the same time believing it to be highly 

 important that conservation of New Zealand forests should be commenced, as no doubt 

 in the future some such scheme as the author advanced might be carried out. He could 

 hardly agree with the author's estimate, especially as regards the value of our timber as 

 compared with others, or as to the small expense of management when the present price 

 of labour is considered. 



Dr. Newman agreed with Mr. Waterhouse. He did not think we could compete with 

 other countries, especially on a large scale. The author was mistaken as to the great 

 value of oru: timber ; still, it was most important that New Zealand forests should be 

 protected. 



Mr. Blundell, while considering the paper valuable, thought the calculations and esti- 

 mates scarcely reUable. He agreed that conservation should be carried out with the view 

 of future operations. 



Mr. O'Neill was of opinion that great weight should be attached to the views of the 

 author, as coming from one who had devoted so much of his time to the question of 

 forestry, and who could speak on the subject with so much experience. He, himself, agreed 

 that some of our timbers were superior in many ways to those used elsewhere. The 

 author deserved the thanks of the society for having brought forward such an important 

 subject. 



