376 Proceedings. 



Selwyn, on geological grounds, that tlie nuggets occuning in sucli situations 

 have been formed in sit it by the aggregation of gold by precipitation from 

 solutions permeating the drifts. 



Mr. Skey, in other papers, suggests an improvement in the process of the 

 manufacture of iodine, and shows an absorptive power which clay possesses for 

 strychnia and other alkaloids, which he traces to the action of silica in 

 combining with these alkaloids. 



I have thus shortly touched on the principal subjects to which the work 

 of our Society has been directed during the past session, and it now only 

 remains for me to thank you for the courtesy and support Avhich I have 

 received during the period for which it has been my duty and pleasure to 

 preside at your meetings. 



Dr. Hector then vacated the chair, which was taken by Mr. W. T. L. 

 Travers, F.L.S., in the unavoidable absence of the President, Mr. Charles 

 Knight, F.R.C.S. 



1. " On the Occurrence of Selenium and Tellurium in the Neighbourhood 

 of Wellington," by W. S. Hamilton. 



The publication of this paper is deferred at the author's request. 



2. "Notes on Dr. Hector's paper on the Whales and Dolphins of the New 

 Zealand Seas," by J. E. Gray, Ph.D., P.R.S., Hon. Mem. N.Z. Inst. 

 (^Transactions, p. 93.) 



3. " Notes on the Fixing of Sand-hills," by William Keene. Communicated 

 by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. 



During the year 1867 Captain Benson, late chief manager of the P. N.Z. & A. Royal 

 Mail Company, kindly undertook to make some enquiries for me as to what was done in 

 Australia with regard to fixing sand-diifts. The result was the able and suggestive letter 

 bearing the signature of William Keene, and given below. I suppose the wi-iter to be 

 Inspector of Mines to the Government of New South Wales, and a person whose opinion 

 has weight. 



From my experience in the matter, I quite agree with Mr. Keene that, at all events 

 when a fixing of the sand is to be produced within a reasonable time, the means which 

 he suggests are those which should be adopted as being rapid and effectual. On the 

 other hand we must not despise the grasses . I find that I can break up and transplant 

 the Ammophila arundinacea (Marram, English ; Oudt, French) during all the damp 

 months of the year, say from March until October ; whereas in New South Wales the 

 term for transplanting must be much more limited. 



I have now spread this grass over a number of acres, and although I cannot say 

 that it has fixed the sand, inasmuch as there are many more acres adjoining 

 from which the sand blows over the plants, yet it begins in a way to alleviate the 

 nuisance . The plant receives a drift of sand like manure, and grows above it, gradually 

 attaching to itself a small sand-hill, but the process is extremely slow, and requires 

 constant attention. Where the sand is blowing away the plants are apt to be blown out, 

 and require to be watched and transxilanted. Where the sand is accumulating the plants 



