239 
Tasmanian Society. 
close resemblance to the fossil Encrinites, as usually figured, 
having a strong flexible stem, 3 to 6 or 7 incites long, which 
enabled the animal to be moved about by every wave. 
A bat, differing from the two commonest species, obtained at 
Penquite, was exhibited by Mr. Gunn. 
The Secretary drew the attention of the members to a state¬ 
ment published in the Gardeners' Chronicle, Oct. 3, 1846, that 
the Solamitn laciniatum, or kangaroo apple of New Holland, had 
been affected by the potatoe disease in England. 
February 10, 1847. 
Read the following memorandum from Dr. W. R. Pugh rela¬ 
tive to the state of the cargo of the barque Rooken), which con¬ 
sisted of copper ore from New Zealand :— 
“ I visited the barque Rookery, upon her arrival at this port 
from Sydney. The .cargo 1 was informed consisted of about 180 
tons of copper ore, from which considerable anxiety had been 
occasioned. The ore had become heated shortly after the vessel 
left Sydney, and the temperature appearing to increase daily, 
until the time of my visit, had induced the captain to make for 
this port, apprehensive that serious consequences to the vessel 
would ensue. On descending to the hold, I was shown a body 
of pyritic ore, occupying the centre of the vessel to ail extent of 
about fifteen feet in length, and reaching to within about four 
feet of the beams. No other cargo was on board ; the ore was 
carefully protected by billets of wood and wool bagging from con¬ 
tact with any part of the vessel; and neither leakage nor any 
other cause, independent of the inherent property of the cargo, 
could be found to offer an explanation of the circumstances into 
which 1 was requested to inquire. The temperature of the hold 
was 70° of Fahrenheit, and the surface of the ore gave indication 
of a very slight elevation above the surrounding air. On removing 
from about nine inches to one foot of the ore, the temperature 
was found to be 90°; and on extending the examination to a 
depth of two feet three inches, the thermometer stood at 133°. 
I had still a body of ore, of upwards of eight feet in thickness, 
and, judging from the circumstances above stated, concluded that 
a much greater heat than I had registered was present in the 
mass. The removal of the ore from the vessel as speedily as 
possible was decided on. During my visits to the vessel, while 
discharging the ore, I was careful to examine the appearance 
presented at the several depths; and, although I was unable to 
obtain by the aid of the thermometer evidence of a greater heat 
than 166°, indications of a much higher temperature were not 
wanting; the wool bagging near the centre of the heap was 
charred, and almost reduced to a state of tinder; the gum resin, 
of which a considerable quantity was mixed with the ore, had also 
