GENERAL NOTES. 225 



arm or creek that our horses refused to enter the water. Evidently 

 the breaking in of the sea had attracted the eels from the neigh- 

 bouring parts of the lagoon, and here they had congregated in vast 

 numbers with the intention of going out to sea. Their number was a 

 most astonishing thing to behold : there were several acres of dry 

 sand covered with dead or dying eels, say one to the square yard, 

 more or less thickly. A rare opportunity was here offered to the 

 sea-gulls, which — as we rode through them — rose in such clouds that 

 they cast a perceptible shade over the sands. Along the margins of 

 the lagoon grows a rank sea grass, which extends out to a depth of 

 three or four feet of water. In the thicker patches of this grass, the 

 eels find food and shelter. So numerous are they that the Morioris 

 beat the grass with clubs, quite in a random manner, and never fail 

 to secure a plentiful supply in a short time. They are coarse and 

 tough to the taste however. 



The congregation of the eels at this spot shows a remarkable 

 instinct, by which they must have been drawn from considerable 

 distances so soon as the sea began to break into the lagoon. As the 

 height of the water in the lagoon was apparently the same as it had 

 been a few days before, not much additional salt water could have 

 flown in. How then did the fact of the inflow become communicated 

 to the eels ? — S. Percy Smith. 



University Extension in New Zealand. — The population of this 

 colony is far too sparse to allow of the introduction of the methods 

 of University extension as carried on throughout England by the 

 Cambridge University authorities. But a praiseworthy attempt has 

 been made in two quarters to provide for young teachers and others in 

 localities at some distance from the colleges already established, such 

 a measure of university education as will enable them to pass the 

 examinations prescribed for degrees by the University of New Zealand. 

 The Southland Collegiate Classes Association owes its existence, we 

 believe, to the efforts of Mr. Bobt. McNab, B.A., of Invercargill. It 

 was started during last year with the object of promoting " sound 

 learning within the District of Southland by encouraging a systematic 

 course of lectures during the winter months on such subjects and within 

 such limits as are laid down in the Synopsis of Classes published 

 annually under the authority of the Council." The Association consists 

 of the teaching staff and eight elected members, four to be elected by 

 the teachers and four by the enrolled students ; and the management is 

 entrusted to a Council of seven office bearers elected annually by the 

 members. The annual fees charged are ten shillings and sixpence for 

 each class to pupil teachers, but to others an enrolment fee of five 

 shillings for the first class ami two shillings and sixpence for each 

 subsequent class, together with class fees varying from ten shillings and 

 sixpence to a guinea and a half. During last session, which extended 

 from May to October inclusive, ninety-six students enrolled themselves. 

 Lectures were delivered on the following subjects : — English, Mathe- 

 matics, Latin, French, Mental Science, Physics, and Chemistry. The 

 very best men available in Southland appear to have been selected as 

 teachers. The Association claims already to have aided many pei'sons 



