Hawkers Bay Philosophical Institute. 459 



Thied Meeting, lith July, 1879. 

 The Eight Eev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair. 



1. " The Influence of Forests on Chmate and Eainfall," by F. S. Pep- 

 percorne, C.E. (Transactions, p. 24.) 



2. The Hon. Secretary read an interesting, lately printed, paper by the Director of 

 the Botanical Gardens, Adelaide. — " On the Vegetable Fragments found in the Tombs 

 and other Monumental Buildings of the Ancient Egyptians." 



FouETH Meeting. 11th August, 1879. 

 Dr. Spencer, Vice-president, in the chair. 



The Honorary Secretary gave "an outline memoir of the two brothers Allan and 

 Eichard Cunningham, who were both early botanists and discoverers in New Zealand, and 

 whose names are intimately bound up with the Flora of this Colony, as well as with that 

 of the neighbouring Australian Colonies. This narration was supplemented by extracts 

 from Mr. Allan Cunningham's letters to Mr. Colenso, and by a few prominent character- 

 istic passages concerning the two brothers, from botanical and other works httle known in 

 New Zealand, and also by portraits of the two unfortunate brothers, who may truly be 

 said to have been martyrs to their favourite science — botany." 



From among the many reasons which prevailed with Mr. Colenso to bring this subject 

 before the meeting, the following (mentioned by him) may be particularly noticed : — 

 (1.) The two Cunninghams forming a connecting scientific link in the New Zealand field 

 with those scientific men who accompanied Cook hither on his expeditions ; both the 

 Cunninghams having been well-known to Sir Joseph Banks, through whom they also in- 

 dividually received their respective appointments as Government Botanists to New South 

 Wales. (2.) Mr. Colenso's personal knowledge of, and intimate friendship with, the 

 lamented Allan Cunningham. And (3.) Their many striking discoveries in New Zealand 

 at an early date, which deserve being duly remembered. 



Fifth Meeting. 4:th September, 1879. 

 The Eight Eev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair. 



1. " A few Eemarks on a Cavern near ' Cook's Well,' at Tolaga Bay, 

 and on a Tree (Sapota costata) found there," by W. Colenso, F.L.S. (Trans- 

 actions, p. 147). 



Several botanical and other specimens were exhibited. 



2. Mr. Colenso gave an account of the Maori myth of " Kae and the Pet Whale of 

 Tinirau ;^' illustrating the same with similar legends (as to tame vfhales= Delphinus sp.) 

 from ancient Greek and Eoman history, Pagan and Christian. 



Sixth Meeting. 13th October, 1879. 



The Eight Eev. the Bishop of Waiapu, President, in the chair. 



1. " On the Moa (Dinornis), Part II.," by W. Colenso, F.L.S. {Trans- 

 actions, p. 63.) 



