Philosophical Society.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5650, 8 October 1889, Page 3

Philosophical Society.

Tho last ordinary meeting of the season of the Hawke's Bay Philosophical Society was held at the Athemeum last night. The chair was occupied by tho president, Dr Spencer, and thero iviu a good attendance of members. The Rev. W. Colenso, F.R.S., spoke upon a larjro variety of ferns collected for him by friends, and ho showed some very rare specimens discovered by himself. Mr Colenso explained these plants, altogether

forming a very interesting chat. Somo time ago a gentleman had informed him that'he had mado an interesting discovery, whioh he had forwarded to the Auckland Museum. In ISS-l, whilst examining and breaking open a parcel of kauri gum which this gentleman had purchased, to his astonishment ho discovered a cavity, in which was a petrified lizard. From natives it was ascertained that in past times tho lizard wus known to have existed in kauri trees, nnd this lmird had probably been preserved in this piece of kauri gum for centuries. He had written to Mr Cheeseman, ot the Auckland Museum, about it, but this gentleman had written him that it had nov-er beon left at that museum. However, the gentleman from whom ho got his information intended visiting Auckland shortly, when ho would make enquiries about it. Mr Colenso exhibited a spider's web, an inch and a half long. Mr 11.

Hill, 8.A., r-Mul a paper ou ''Artesian Wells," whioh, ho said, was an addendum to thopaper read by him two years ago. This paper contained additional facts of interest and importance. Those who spoke in tho discussion tlmt followed were Mr Colenso, Mr .Hamilton, tho Bi.-hop of Waiapti, and the Do.iv of VVaiapu. A hearty vote of thank* was acorded Mr Hill for hit-paper,'

|on th.. motion of Mr Colenso, and a similar compliment was paid to the latter gentleman, on tho motion of the Dean of Waiapti, '• for the pleasing way in which ho had led thosn through tho forests of their adopted land." Mr Colenso then explained the native custom of oatjhitiu parrots, and he showed to tho audicuce a specimen trap for entrapping these birds. The natives who lived in tho interior were never deficient of food, but they never got food unless tht'V worked for it. There was a great difference between the natives of this island and tho Polynesian Islands : there Nature grew tho food for them, but here tho nativos had to get it. tlio boat way they could. Parrots iv tho olden days were great food for tho natives ; in fact, in his travels ho scarcely ever came across a native who had not in his possession ona of these traps and a tamo parrot as a decoy. He remembered two old decrepit native women travelling from the Patca to Manawata, whero they wanted to sco their relations beforo they died. These women had nothing in their possession but this trap and a tame parrot, and they seemed perfectly contented. Mr Colenso made reference that that was the last meeting of tho year. That verj day was the anniversary of Cook sighting Now Zealand, and the following] day of his landing in New Zealand. Owing to the hour being late, time did not permit of the reading of several other papers on tho programme, and tho following were taken as read:—On "Ruapehu," by Mr. H. Hill; on " The deposit of Moa boia.s at 'Ie Aute, part 111 " by Mr. Hamilton, and " Contributions to the list of New Zealand Fiidios." On tho table were some beautiful specimens of typography from Stutgart, exhibited by Mr. R. C. Harding. The usual vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated tho proceedings.