540 Proceedings. 



mined the authority of the chiefs, without being able to establish European authority 

 among them as a substitute. There appears to be no reason why the race should have 

 decayed if it had been left alone, or only gradually assimilated to our own, and it is no 

 use trying to excuse ourselves by any other natural law but that of might. 



Dr. Newman, in replying, said that he still believed the race was disappearing, and 

 that evidence to bear out that fact would be found in his paper. 



2. "Fallacies in the Theory of Circular Motion," by T. Wakelin, B.A. 

 Univ. N.Z. {Transactions, p. 134). 



3. " On the Extinction of the Moa," by H. C. Field, of Wanganui. 

 This was an account of the finding of moa bones in the sand-hills at 



Wanganui, and an exhibition of some of these bones, showing sharp clean 

 cuts in them, which the author thought must have been made with a steel 

 weapon while the bones were fresh, and therefore that the bird had lived 

 since the arrival of the Europeans. 



Dr. Hector, although agreeing with the author as to the survival of moas to a com- 

 paratively late date, thought that such bones might have been originally in swampy 

 ground and soft, in which state they are easily cut with any tool like a spade or mattock, 

 and afterwards harden on exposure and bleaching in sand. 



4. " On an Abnormal Growth of New Zealand Flax (Phormium tenax)," 

 by the Eev. Philip Walsh. {Transactions, p. 374). 



5. " On a Deposit of Moa Bones, near Motanau, North Canterbury," by 

 A. McKay, of the Geological Department. {Transactions, p. 410). 



Specimens were placed on the table, and Dr. Hector explained the locality, and stated 

 that this was probably the oldest moa deposit yet found. A skull and other bones of the 

 extinct gigantic eagle, Harpagornis, first discovered by Dr. Haast, were also found in this 

 locality, this being the first skull secured of this interesting bird. The deposit is of early 

 Pleistocene age, and the moa bones belonged exclusively to the species Dinornis elephan- 

 topus, D. casuarinus and D. didiformis. There are also some bones of a large Ealline 

 bird not yet determined. 



6. " Descriptions of New Shells," by T. W. Kirk, Assistant in the 

 Colonial Museum. {Transactions, p. 282). 



7. "On some Plants new to New Zealand, and Description of a new 

 Species," by John Buchanan, F.L.S. {Transactions, pp. 342 and 356). 



These were mostly obtained during a recent exploration of the Tararua ranges. 



Dr. Hector stated that during the recent expedition to the Tararua Mountains, Mr. 

 Buchanan, in company with Mr. H. Logan and party, had procured about 1500 live plants, 

 which had been divided between the various domains in the colony, a portion also being 

 sent to Kew. Many of them will be most beautiful additions to gardens. 



8. Specimens of a Lichen collected on the Island of Kapiti, where it 

 is abundant, with samples of dyes made from it were exhibited by Mr. 

 W. H. Levin, M.H.E. 



The Lichen belongs to the genus Leuconora, which was formerly used as a dye-stuff 

 under the name of Ai'chil, till displaced by the less fugitive Aniline dyes. 



9. " Suggestions relative to the Eabbit Nuisance," by Henry Tryon, 



