Wellington Philosophical Society. 381 



Spicier is occupying its place, the blight existing on the extremities of the 

 branches. Of coui'se I have not actixally seen this species of Red Spider 

 devour the Ajihis, but this I say, where the E.ed Spider exists there is not an 

 Ajjhis amongst them. They would require to be watched in an insect-breeding 

 case, which I have not got at pi-esent. Should you feel interested in this, and 

 desire me to send you a piece of branch with the Red Spidei's on it, I will be 

 glad to do so. I also tind the Red Spider on plums and other ti-ees which the 

 Aphis does not inhabit, the trees apparently not suffering from any effects of 

 this Red Spider." 



Mr. W. Travers did not consider this spider to be a new discovery. It had 

 been largely developed during the drought of last year, and the Aphis dis- 

 appeared. He thought the spider was, if anything, the worse pest of the two. 



A Bar of Ii"on, made from ore at Pai'apara, Collingwood, was exhibited 

 by Dr. Hector, who described the locality and- the nature of the ore. 



Third Meeting. 1st September, 1873. 

 J. C. Crawford, F.G.S., Vice-President, in the chair. 

 About thirty-five members were present. 

 JVew member. — "William Mouton. 



1. " On the Formation of Mountains ; a Reply to the Rev. 0. Fisher," by 

 Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S. {Transactions, p. 284.) 



Mr. Carruthers, C.E., said he had great difficulty in seeing how arches of 

 such magnitude could be supported in the manner pointed out, as they would 

 rise, so far as he could see, in an irregular form. He also thought that 

 the elasticity of the rocks would be sufficient to take up the pressure, unless 

 the heat was considerable, say 200°. 



2. " On a New Genus of Ballidce," by Captain F. W. Hutton, C.M.Z.S. 

 (Transactions, p. 108.) 



3. " List of the Algce of the Chatham Islands, collected by H. H. Travers, 

 Esq., and examined by Professor John Agardh, of Lund," communicated by 

 Baron Ferd. von Mueller, C.M.G., M.D., F.R.S., Hon. Mem. KZ.L 

 (Transactions, p. 208.) 



4. The chairman read the following communication, addressed by him to 

 the Colonial Secretary, giving Suggestions for the conversion of Sawdust into 

 Fuel. 



" 11th February, 1873. — I think that the suggestions given in the enclosed 

 extract might be of advantage to the Government at a time of scarcity of 

 fuel, such as exists at present. 



