﻿Auckland Institute. 389 



on tlie Thames goldfielcls. He stated that their Imninositj in some cases was 

 most remai-kable. 



Second Meeting. 2Qth June, 1871. 



T. Heale, President, in the chair. 



New members. — Dr. J. L. Campbell, J. S. Buckland. 



The monthly list of donations to the Library and Museum was read by the 

 Secretary. 



1. " On the Nativity in N"ew Zealand of Polygonum aviculare, L.," by 

 T. Kirk, F.L.S., (see Transactions, j). 238) ; being a reply to a note by Mr. 

 Travers on Polygonum aviculare, at page 336 of Vol. III. of the Transactions. 



Dr. Purchas remarked that he had observed the plant on his first arrival 

 in the colony, and did not believe that it had materially increased since that 

 time. 



The President stated that thirty years ago, a time when the common Dock, 

 as a naturalized plant, in the North Island was only known on the sea-beach at 

 Hokianga and one or two similar localities, the Knot-grass occurred to about 

 the same extent as at the present day. He had always considered it indi- 

 genous. 



2. Some microscopic preparations of Phormium, the colour of which was 

 remarkably well preserved, were exhibited by Mr. T. P. S. Tinne. 



3. " On the. Use of Vulgar Fractions instead of Decimals in the Compila- 

 tion of Mathematical Tables," by P. J. Pearce. A synopsis of this paper was 

 read by the author, but, owing to its abstract nature, discussion was postponed 

 until the next meeting. 



4. " On Eclipses," by T. Heale. 



(abstract.) 

 The author explained that total or annular eclipses coiild only take place 

 when the line of syzigies coincided with the line of nodes, and partial eclipses 

 of the sun and moon when their angular distances did not exceed 12° and 15° 

 respectively ; that since nineteen synodical revolutions of the nodes occupy 

 6585-78 days, and 223 revolutions of the moon, 6585-32, the relative positions 

 of the bodies are brought back at the end of that period of 18 years and 11 

 days to the same position they occupied at the commencement of it, except the 

 small amount of motion due to the 11 hours of difference, and apart from the 

 effects of perturbations, and that all the eclipses recur under nearly the same 

 circumstances as before. The knowledge of this period, and of the order of 

 previous eclipses, as seen from one place, enabled the priests in the dawn of 



c c c 



