HAWKE'S BAY PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3692, 15 May 1883, Page 3

HAWKE'S BAY PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE.

Last night this Society held their first Ordinary meeting for this year. AYe Avere pleased to see most of the officers present, from the President (the Bishop of AVaiapu) downwards, also several ladies ;—but avc thought there should have been more of the Members, especially of those of the town: as usual, hoAvever, Mr Sturm had ridden in from Clive, and Mr Hamilton from Petane valley ; all praise to them as support biff members ! Mr Colenso read an interesting paper on

the Huwaiki of the Maoris, containing JL many curious and recondite matters, Avhich lie further illustrated by apposite remarks on things that had come under his oavii personal notice in former years. This paper, avc understood, is only the first of a series on that subject. The President proposed, in a neat short address, a vote of thanks to Mr Colenso for his highly interesting paper; this Avas seconded by Dr. Spencer and carried unanimously. One thing Aye may also notice in connection Avith tliis paper : _ Mr. Colenso told us, that Aye were mainly indebted to the heavy ancl continuous rains of last month (avlulc lie Avas confined to his lodging's at Matamau ill the 70-mile Bush) for the paper: avc observed that it Avas Avrittcn on note paper ! A largo amount of exhibits,— Geological, Minora logical, Coiichological,—mostly from tho Barrier Island in tho Thames,—and, also, from Jarvis' Island, ("situated, according to Mr. Colenso, a little south of the equator, and in nearly IGO AY.long.,) Avere shown.; thc-c excited great interest, and some of them were real novelties, both curious and valuable. The Avhole collection Avas a donation to the Museum of the Insti-

tjito from Mr C. P. AVinkelmanu of To Ante

College, (who had collected tho largest part A ~ of them himself, at the Barrier Island and neighbouring' islets, during the Christinas vacation) and from his brother Mr Henry AVinkelmanu, avlio had collected the tropical shells Avhen visiting Jarvis' Island. On tho motion of Mr Colenso, seconded by Mr Hamilton and supported by Dr -*- Spencer, a cordial and uuanimous vote of thanks Avas aAvarded to the Messrs AVinkelmaim for their liberal and valuable dona-

tion. The Hon. Secretary called the part'.cular attention of Members ancl their friends, aud of the residents generally of HaAvke's Bay, to the prior claims of their oivu established Museum to curios and to specimens. Too many of them, he thought, Avere continually being sent to tho Museum at AVellington; -where, he happened to know from good authority, sonic of them Avere not Avanted. We hope HaAvke's Bay folks Avill make a Hoto of this. Mr Colenso also exhibited the livingchrysalis of one of our largest N.Z. Butter - flos, supposed by him to be that oiPiframvis Ooncri//a,-*v,']rich, together with its larva, (a terrific-looking creature, covered Avith long sharp triplet and multifid spines), ho hacf obtained from tho 70-mile Bush, during his recent visit there. Ho intends to watch the change of the crysalis into its imago, or perfect insect, state ; that its duration iv undergoing its transformation maybe accurately kuoAvn to science. _ The examination of those varied exhibits over, (or, more correctly, glanced at, they Avere so many and so capfiA'ating), the attention of Members avus called to that very peculiar lish, the Torpedo ( T. Fairehildi), Avhich avus caught about a month ago, and briefly described at the time iv our columns. The specimen, together with sonic young ones, had been Avcll preserved byMrßoAvermaii, they Avere brought in by him and exhibited on the table. The Hon. Secretary read, from Ancient ancl Modern Authors, many interesting and curious details respecting the famed European species of this fish ; Avhich appears to have been much larger and poAverful. A full definition of its fitting Maori name (almost a literal translation of its ancient classical one), was also by him given. He

also showed, that it AA-as recorded by Dr. Hector, that thcfr.it specimen secured and described, was 'also taken here at Napier in 1-SGB. Mr Colonso however stated, that it was also well-known to the Maoris at the extreme Noith, from Avhom he had oarly obtained its Maori name. The A'ice-Presi-dent, Dr. Spencer, has promised to dissect and prepare the curious electric organs of the animal, and to give a description of them at a future meeting,—May we be there ! Azotes of thanks Avore also unanimously and heartily awarded to Messrs Bowerman, Hamilton, 'and Colcnso, for their exhibits, kc, kc Three now Members were also elected, tho Rev. Brother Joseph, and Mr A. P. Sheath of Napier, and Mr C. J- Norton of Taupo. The usual A'oto of thanks to the Bishop as Chairman, terminated the proceedings—at past 10 o'clock.