MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 285 
now amounted to 254, only 20 of which were known to science 
prior to 1875. 
(2.) “On the growth of the Cork Oak (Quercus suber) in the 
Auckland district,” by Mr. Justice Gillies. 
In the year 1855 the late Dr. Sinclair planted close to his house, 
near Symonds street, a young cork oak, received from Kew. It is 
now 40 feet in height, 14 feet from the ground to the first branch, 
with a'spread of top ot about 4o feet in diameter. For several 
years it has produced acornsin abundance. In 1877 it was stripped 
for the first time, yielding a considerable quantity of virgin cork. 
In February of this year it was again stripped, yielding 7olbs. 
weight (when dried) of good marketable cork, fit for pint corks, 
etc., and worth about 60s. per cwt. It will thus be seen that the trees 
must be 25 to 27 years old before producing any return, and then 
every five years may produce from 7o to roolbs of marketable cork. 
(3) ‘The University of New Zealand: its history, constitution, 
and objects,” by the Right Rev. W. G. Cowie, D.D., Bishop of 
Auckland. 
A long discussion followed the reading of this paper, in which 
Mr. Justice Gillies, Mr. Halcombe, Mr. Martin, Dr. Purchas, and 
others took part. 
September 25th, 1882.—E. A. Mackechnie, Esq., President, in 
the chair. 
New members—H. Eastman, W. Fidler, M.A., T. Simpson, 
W. P. Snow. 
Papers—(t1.) ‘‘ New Species of Coleoptera,” by Capt. T. Broun. 
Thirteen new forms were described, belonging to the families 
Scaphidude, Colydiude, Lathnidude, Lucande, Dascyllide, and Cisside, 
Seven of the species had been collected in Otago by Mr. S. W. 
Fulton; the remainder were from various localities in the Auck- 
land Provincial District. 
(2.) “On two new Planarians from Auckland Harbour,” by 
T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. 
Two new species belonging to the genera Thysanozoon and Eury- 
lepta, were fully described, and coloured drawings of them exhibited. 
(3.) ‘‘Shakspeare and Euphuism,” by J. Murray Moore, M.D. 
This paper was chiefly occupied with a criticism of John Lilly and 
his works, and their influence upon the literature of the reign ot 
Elizabeth. According to the author, this influence could be traced 
through many of Shakspeare’s plays. 
SOUTHLAND INSITUTE, 
12th September, 1882.—J. T. Thomson, Esq., President, in the 
chair. 
_ A paper was read by the Secretary, communicated by Mr. T. 
Wakelin, of Greytown, Wellington, entitled ‘‘ The Surface Features 
of the Earth and Local Variations in the Force of Gravity,” in 
which the author contends that the earth is increasing in size by 
incorporation of ethereal corpuscles; that gravity is a rotational 
effect, and therefore as this rotation of the ethereal corpuscles is 
reduced, the force of gravity would be lessened, hence the 
differences exhibited by strata of various densities, 
