GENERAL NOTES. 395 
without causing suffering ; thus no discomfort is telt when the front of 
the eye-ball is rubbed with the finger, or it may be cut with a knife, 
for example, to perform an operation for cataract, without pain. No 
unpleasant after-effects follow its use. “ For some months before its 
use in the eye, it had been emplo ed by physicians to render the mucous 
membranes less sensitive, especially that of the throat; and it will 
probably be found capable of rendering other valuable services in 
medicine.” 
The alkaloid cocaine is prepared from the leaves of Hrythroxylon 
coca. ‘This shrub is cultivated in the valleys of the eastern slopes of the 
Andes, and has long been known for its stimulating qualities. The 
inhabitants of Peru seek it eagerly to chew, and it produces in them an 
excitement of the nervous system. As in the case of so many other 
excitants, the desire for this when once acquired seems to become almost 
unconquerable. It is said that an American “Indian with a chew of 
Ipadu in his cheek will go two or three days without food, and without 
feeling any desire to sleep.” The plant would probably grow in the 
northern portion of the North Island, and it would be worth while were 
the Auckland Acclimatization Society to introduce it as an experiment, 
EartHquakes.—A sharp shock of earthquake was felt throughout 
the greater part of Westland, on February 25th, at 2.30 pm. At 
Hokitika the direction apparently was from south-west to north-east, 
and its duration is reported as about eight seconds. It is also reported 
from Kumara, Westport, and Greymouth. At the latter place a 
second shock more severe than the first, appears to have followed it 
closely, and to have made all the buildings shake. No damage is 
reported. 
On February 27th a sharp shock was experienced at Oamaru at 
2.8a.m. The vibration lasted about three seconds, and the direction 
was apparently from north-east to south-west. 
_ THe University or New Zeatann.—The Senate commenced its 
fifteenth session, at Auckland, on February 25th. Dr. Hector, formerly 
Vice-Chancellor, was unanimously elected to the Chancellorship, vacant 
by the death of the Hon. H. J. Tanered. We congratulate Dr. Hector 
on his election to the highest educational honour which the Colony can 
bestow. His name and fame are not confined to the Colony, but are 
known throughout the civilized world, and are a guarantee to all that 
the office will be filled with dignity and credit. 
Dr. Hector made the following communication to the Senate :— 
‘¢ He had been authorized by Sir Julius Vogel to inform the Senate that 
the Government had under consideration a scheme for granting four 
annual scholarships, each to be held for a period of eight years, for the 
benefit of students following the scientific side of the University course. 
These scholarships would be open, so far as the scheme had yet been 
arranged, to competition by pupils from any school in the Colony who 
were able to pass a standard similar to the Fourth Standard of the 
primary scholars.” a 
THE HyYDROPHILIDZ OF NEw ZEALAND.—From a paper read before 
the Entomological Society of London, on 3rd September, 1884, by Dr. 
_ Sharp, on this group of beetles, we extract the following remarks :— 
