MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES. 521 
August 14th, 1883.—Mr. A. Montgomery, Esq., President, in 
the chair. 
Mr. F. R. Chapman opened a discussion on the “ Nationalisa- 
tion of Land,” stating the present aspects of the question, and 
bringing forward a scheme by which freehold might be acquired 
by the State. The discussion was continued by Mr. J. A. Connell, 
Mr. W. D. Stewart, Professor Mainwaring Brown, Mr. C. Y. 
O‘Connor, and Mr. W.N. Blair. 
On the motion of Mr. J. Denniston, seconded by Professor 
Brown, it was resolved to adjourn the discussion to a special 
meeting to be held on Thursday, the 21st inst. (This meeting 
was afterwards turther postponed until the following Thursday, 
August 28th, when several other speakers took part in the discus- 
sion. ) 
WELLINGTON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY. 
Wellington 13th June, 1883—-Hon. G. Randall Johnston, 
M.L.C.. President, in the chair. 
The President read his annual address. 
Mr. McKay read a paper descriptive of a recent geological sur- 
vey of the East Coast of the North Island, having particular refer- 
ence to his discovery of volcanic and igneous rocks in the district. 
He described the geological features of a series of low hills and 
gullies about 14 miles from Masterton, on Mr. Beetham’s run; and 
showed a model indicating a well-defined crater, which he had no 
doubt was the low neck of an extinct volcano. He inferred from 
the adjacent strata that the volcano was not ancient in a geologi- 
cal sense, though he offered no comparative data as to the period 
of its probable activity. 
Dr. Hector considered that this volcano was a rare discovery, 
affording clear and perfect evidence of volcanic activity not far 
from Wellington. It was a much more important element in fix- 
ing accurately the different grades of geological sequence than 
might appear at first sight. The discovery had also an importance 
in searching tor gold and other minerals in the district. Although 
the Terawhiti district showed indirect evidence of volcanic activity, 
direct evidence was afforded by large masses of hornblende like 
that now exhibited from districts near Wellington, and the nature 
and origin of which they had not been able to account for until 
the discovery of this low volcanic neck. Now they saw the reason, 
and there might be tound other necks of old volcanic craters not 
far from the surface and nearer Wellington. 
Wellington. 4th July, 1883.—Hon. G. Randall Johnston, M.L.C., 
President, in the chair. 
Papers—(1) ‘‘ Notes on Monstrosities in Animals,” by Dr. 
Newman. : 
(2.) “‘ History of the Aorere River, Collingwood, since Miocene 
mmes,” by Mr. S. H.-Cox, F.G.S8. 
Among the exhibits shown were (1) some quartz taken 
from a point between Lowry Bay and Pencarrow Light- 
house, which Dr. Hector said had been tested and found 
to contain gold at tthe rate of 607 oz. to the ton. The quartz 
had a close resemblance to that of the Wealth of Nations claim at 
