﻿354 Proceedings 



Buller ; also to specimens of a Beetle sent from Wanganni by Mr. Duigan ; 

 and read a communication recording an extraordinaiy flight of an army of these 

 beetles, from which the sample had been captured, in the Patea district. The 

 paper stated that they travelled with marvellous speed, having gone over 

 forty miles of country in one night, and that a similar irruption had taken place 

 on the coast in 1863. 



Mr. Travers said this Beetle was very like one that made its appear- 

 ance in Canterbuiy, the larva of which was most destructive to the grass ; and 

 he believed it originally came from Tasaiania, whei-e it proved very destructive 

 to grass and crops. The most effectual remedy for the plague in that colony 

 was found to be flooding the earth, as, after the water passed off, the dead larvae 

 were to be seen in the ditches in incredible qiiantities. Among some inter- 

 esting particulars respecting this unwelcome stranger, Mr. Travers said it was 

 nocturnal in its habits, being very seldom seen in the day ; and he thought it 

 was much to be regretted that it had found its W8.y across Cook Strait. 



2. Mr. Travers read the following description of Moriori Canoes, received 

 from Mr. A. Shand, formerly Resident Magistrate at the Chatham Islands : — 



" The Morioris had four kinds of canoes, but each much of the same kind 

 or shape. One was called a 'Waka Puhara' or ' Korari,' made like the one 

 sent to the Colonial Museum, with two keels. The stern-post was called a 

 ' koua,' and carved, and the two pieces of wood projecting from the stern 

 were called the ' puremu,' and were also carved. This canoe was generally 

 30 to 35 feet long, 4 to 5 feet deep, and the same in width. 



"A 'Waka Rimu' was another kind, similar to the first, but having no 

 korari about it, and only kelp put in the body of the canoe. 



" A ' "Waka Pahi,' the same as the one sent to the Museum, was the sort 

 of canoe used to go to the, islands, birding, etc. The size of a large one was — 

 the keels each 30 feet, the toua 12 feet, the priremu 10 feet — about 50 feet 

 over all ; breadth 8 feet ; depth 5. feet. The keels were made of matipou, the 

 koua and puremu of akeake, the rest of such timber as the island afforded. 

 The kelp used to make it float was the ' rimapa,' or broad flat bull kelp, which 

 was dried and then put in, and taken out when done with, and replaced when 

 rotten. 



"The fourth kind of canoe was much the same as a New Zealand mokihi, 

 but made with korari and rarauhe stalks, being quite low, and had wooden 

 images of men made and placed thei'on, from twelve to twenty-four in number, 

 with each a paddle tied to its hands, and then, with a fair wind, was started 

 off to sea to the God Eongotakuiti, who replied by sending seals and shoals of 

 blackfish ashore. It was called a ' Waka Pa.' " 



3. Dr. Hector gave an account of the reports he had received from 

 more than thirty stations respecting the magnificent meteor that passed 



