I2 JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, 
rushes, should be beaten. The loose bark should be stripped off 
trees and logs, and carefully examined, so that the destroyers 
may be found. 
In conclusion, I may add that Iam always willing to exa- 
mine collections sent to me for that purpose, and will return a 
named specimen of each species to the collector within a month 
or so. The preservation of insects will be dealt with in the fol- 
lowing number of this journal. 
A VISIT TO THE WEKA PASS ROCK-PAINTINGS. 
> 
BY W. M. MASKELL, 
<> —_———— 
Everybody in the colony has heard of the Weka Pass Rock- 
Paintings. Known for several years to a few people, these 
curious works of art were first brought under general notice in 
the presidential address of Dr. von Haast to the Philosophical 
Institute of Canterbury, in 1877 (Transactions N.Z. Institute, vol. 
X., p. 44). Since then speculation has been freely indulged in 
concerning them. Some attribute them to the Maoris; some to 
an earlier race of aborigines ; some to Cingalese or Tamil sailors, 
cast away in New Zealand ; one authority to Buddhist mission- 
aries endeavouring to enlighten the Maori mind; and a great 
many to European shepherds, shearers, or drovers. From time 
to time also it has been stated that different Europeans, 
settlers of various classes, have declared themselves the actual 
authors of the paintings. Dr. von Haast, in his address, expresses 
the hope that members of the Institute would aid in the elucida- 
tion of the question, “ which may throw considerable light upon 
the pre-historic inhabitants of these fair islands.” And it was 
with a view to some such assistance, ever so slight, that during 
the first week in November, 1881, pretty generally holiday time, 
a party of nine, almost all members of the Institute, proceeded 
to the Weka Pass to inspect the rock-paintings. 
Nothing could have been fairer or more promising than the 
weather of Friday morning, November 11, and, indeed, the 
promise was well kept during the two days of our trip. A punc- 
tual muster brought seven of us to the station for the early 
morning train for Amberley ; the other two were “ collected” at a 
a wayside station. All told, the party formed a very fair repre- 
sentative body. Art and archeology, commercial, legal, and 
mathematical acumen, scientific and classical research, found 
