﻿394 Proceedi7igs . 



5. " jSTotes on the New Zealand Asteliacls witli Descriptions of New- 

 Species," by T. Kirk, F.L.S. (see Transactions, p. 241.) The writei' described 

 the general characteristics of the New Zealand members of the genus, more 

 especially of the lowland forms, and drew attention to the prominent position 

 which the genus occupies in the flora of the Colony, notwithstanding its 

 comparatively small number of species. The paper was illustrated by a series 

 of dried specimens of each species in various stages of flower and fruit, with 

 the exceptions of the alpine A . nervosa. 



The President remarked that he had analysed the gum exuded by A. 

 trinervia when cut down, and found it to contain over 90 per cent of water* 

 In addition to the economic purposes to which the genus had been applied, as 

 enumerated in the paper just read, he. would state that the thin pellicle of the 

 leaves of A. hanhsii and A. solandri, and perhaps of other species, was twisted 

 into wicks for lamps and candles by the Maoris. 



Fourth Meeting. 28th August, 1871. 

 T. Heale, President, in the chair. 



JVew members. — The Venerable Archdeacon Maunsell, T. Fish, J. W. Hall. 

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

 the Secretary. 



1. " On a Mode of Communication between a Station on a Line of Pail- 

 way and a Train in motion on the same Line," by G. Rayner. 



(abstbact.) 



A wire is laid between the rails on strong insulators fixed on the sleepers 

 with cast iron brackets, all joints being made beneath the wire. The connec- 

 tion from the carriage (in which the instrument is placed) with the wire^ is by 

 means of a light copper wheel, as large as convenient, beneath the carriage. 

 The parts bearing this wheel are perfectly insulated from the carriage. The 

 connection is continued from a bearing connected with this wheel. 



The pressure of the wheel on the wire would be very slight, being regu- 

 lated by means of counteracting weights on pulleys, thus enabling the person 

 in charge to maintain a pressure merely sufficient to meet any deflections of 

 the wire, which would also avoid wear to the same. 



In case of an earth being required, to complete the circuit, a connection is 

 made with the iron axle of the carriage, which communicates with the iron 

 rails, thus forming an earth. 



The paper was illustrated by a model. 



In the discussion which ensued the ingeniiity evinced by the author in his 

 adaptation of an old plan was generally admitted, but it was agreed that the 



