MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 189 
preceded Macauley—notably Kirke White, Volney, Shelley, and 
Billiardiere—it was probable that he was indebted to them for the 
idea. 
Mr. Colenso also exhibited specimens of a new: species of 
Gunnera, allied to G. scabra of Chili. 
SOUTHLAND INSTITULE. 
gth May, 1882.—J. T. Thomson, Esq., president, in the chair. 
Papers—(1.) ‘‘On the work done by the New Zealand Insti- 
fite, by the President. This paper gave an account'of the 
writers who had. contributed most of the articles published 
annually by the Institute, and of the subjects discussed. In con- 
cluding it, the author paid a high compliment to Mr. P. Goyen, 
the secretary of the local Society, whom he spoke of as an 
enthusiastic and indefatigable worker. 
(2.) “On the formation of certain quartz pebbles,’ by Mr. 
Hamilton. In this paper the author sought to account for the 
pebbles which are so plentifully found in the neighbourhood of 
Invercargill, which he considered were not brought down from 
the hills of the interior, nor were they to be looked upon as the 
remains of hills which might once perhaps have existed where the 
pebbles are now found. He advanced the theory that they were 
formed from ancient forests: the carbon of the buried timber 
escaping by oxidation, and its place being taken by silica brought 
down by solution in water. This siliceous matter gradually 
hardened into stone, bearing marks in many cases of the woody 
tissues which it had replaced. Specimens were shown in corrobo- 
ration of the theory, some showing the woody tissue only partially 
altered. In the discussion which ensued, the President dissented 
from the theory propounded, while Mr. Goyen suggested that the 
pebbles could possibly be formed from the siliceous matter con- 
tained in the wood itself. 
3rd June.—J. T. Thomson, Esq., president, in the chair. 
Papers—(1.) ‘On Forestry,’ by Mr. D. M‘Arthur. The 
author detailed chiefly the history of the plantations made by the 
Dukes of Athol in Scotland, and dealt with the suitability of the 
Larch as a forest tree, and as one which would thrive in Southland. 
ee Holk-lore,”*by Mr. J..G. Smith. 
Two new members were elected, and Mr. Carswell and the 
Rey. Mr. Fairclough were appointed members of the Council. 
ROYAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 
May 3rd, 1882.—Annual Meeting. H.C. Russell, Esq., presi- 
dent, in the chair. 
From the annual report we extract the following:—The 
number of new members elected during the year was 46, and the 
total number of members on 30th April, 1882, was 475. The 
Clarke medal for the year 1882 was awarded to James Dwight 
Dana, LL.D., Professor of Geology and Mineralogy in Yale 
College, Newhaven, U.S.A., in recognition of his eminent work as 
a naturalist, and especially in reference to his geological and 
other labours in Australia when with the United States Exploring 
