554: Proceedings, 



2. " Contributions to a Flora of the Nelson Provincial District," by T. 

 F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 301). 



3. " Eevision of tbe New Zealand Cossonicke, with Descriptions of new 

 Species," by Captain T. Broun, M.E.S. (Eeserved for separate publication). 



4. " Eecent Advances in Photography," by J. Martin, F.Gr.S." 



ABSTRACT. 



In this paper (which was fully illustrated with experiments) the author 

 traced the progress of photography up to the present time, giving a full 

 account of the new platinum process, by which pictures that are not affected 

 by heat, acids, or light, can be readily produced, and which resemble mezzo- 

 tint engravings rather than photographs. 



Sixth Meeting. 15th November, 1881. 



T. Peacock, President, in the chair. 



Neiv Members. — Captain Filder, H. N. Garland, W. H. Grace, J. Haslett, 

 W. C. Kensington, Eev. D. W. Eunciman, G. W. Williams, H. S. Smith. 



1. " New Species of Cerambycida," by Captain T. Broun. (Eeserved 

 for separate publication). 



2. " Notice of the Occurrence of the Australian Eoller (Eitrystomiis jpaci- 

 ficus) in New Zealand," by T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 265). 



3. " Notes on various Subjects," by James Baber, C.E. 



Passiflora tetrandra. 



On allotment 86, East Waiuku, the property of Mr. Marshall, three 

 years ago, I was passing a specimen of this climber so singular that I 

 stopped to sketch and measure it. 



Attached to a branch of a small taua tree, about 18 inches diameter at its 

 butt, and at a height which I guessed to be 35 feet, depended a vine which 

 reached the ground, and had a diameter of 3|- inches. On the ground, like 

 a rope cable, was spread a coil and a half of the plant. The coil was circular 

 and its diameter 12 feet. By multiplying the diameter by 8|, the length of 

 the plant was 56 feet 6 inches lying on the ground, while the distance from 

 the ground to the branch of attachment was not more than 35 feet; in other 

 words, nearly two -thirds of the round stem of the vine were on the ground. 



How came the plant to grow in this singular shape ? Probably the vine 

 grew up the stem of the taua, formed a firm attachment to the branch from 

 which it still hangs, the branch bore it out into the air, having little pre- 

 hensile power its weight caused it to leave the stem by which it had cHmbed. 

 Borne further out horizontally by the growth of the branch, but not higher, 

 the growth of the stem of the vine, as formed by the crown of leaves above, 



