HawJce's Bay Philosophical Institute. 565 



down to a cutting edge, and the sides are square. This bone was found last year in the 

 forest, near to the public works on the railway line at Kopua, lying under 10-12 feet of 

 earth. None of the old Maoris of to-day, who have seen it, know anything of it, or of its 

 probable use. It seems to be made out of a bone of a whale, and is (here, at least) unique. 



Second Ordinary Meeting. 13th J%ine, 1881. 

 Mr. Bold, Vice-President, in the chair. 



1. "Historical Incidents and Traditions of the Ancient Maoris of this 

 East Coast, showing much of their habits, customs, and ways of thinking 

 in the olden time, — ages before they were first visited by Europeans," 

 Part III., by W. Colenso, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 3). 



This paper, being particularly curious, archaic and recondite, was largely elucidated 

 by explanatory remarks, and also by drawings in the Journal of Sydney Parkinson, who 

 was Sir Joseph Banks' draughtsman, and here in New Zealand with him in Cook's first 

 voyage. 



2. The Hon. Secretary exhibited an interesting collection of tertiary fossils (probably 

 from both Upper and Lower Eocene), containing many species of the classes Coral and 

 Bryozoa, collected by Mr. J. Stewart, of TakaiDau, in that neighbourhood ; and also by Mr. 

 Colenso, at Waipawa. 



Third Ordinaky Meeting. 11th July, 1881. 

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



1. " On the Microscopical Fresh- water Alga of Napier and its neighbour- 

 hood," accompanied with drawings, by W. I. Spencer, M.R.C.S. {Trans- 

 actions, p. 287). 



2. Some new exhibits were shown by the Hon. Secretary ; among them were (1) a 

 handsome green moth, probably of the genus Tatosoma, and the largest specimen of that 

 genus yet noticed ; (2) some ancient Maori stone axes (or chisels) of a very small size, and 

 possessing a very fine edge, found hidden, with some wooden fish-hooks, in a cave near 

 the Tukituki River ; and (3) a large stone axe, of a peculiar and rude shape (probably only 

 partly formed, or the work of a ruder and older race than the present Maoris, or by them- 

 selves at an early age), found by Mr. William Chambers, of Poverty Bay, at the Bluff in 

 Southland, New Zealand, while travelling in those parts ; the stone, too, being different 

 to any known North Island kind. 



Fourth Ordinary Meeting. Qth August, 1881. 



Mr. Bold, Vice-President, in the chair. 



1. " Contributions towards a better Knowledge of the Maori Race," Part 

 IV,, — on their legends, myths, cpiasi-religions ceremonies, and invocations 

 concerning the Kumara plant, — by W. Colenso, F.L.S. {Transactions, p. 33). 



