AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7724, 24 August 1886, Page 6

AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.

The regular meeting of the Auckland Institute was held last evening. There was a fair attendance, and Professor Brown presided.

New Members.—The following list of new members was submitted :—Rev. J. Campbell, Ponsonby, and Dr. A. Challinor Purchas, Auckland.

Donations to the Library and Museum . —The following donations were acknowledged " Annals of the Natural History Museum of Vienna, 1 ' Part I. and 11. the Museum Giglish's " Avifauna of Italy," the author; lar«e octopus, Mr. Bell; New Zealand shells, T. L. White : green lizard, VV. McSweeney; centipede, J. Woolley ; volcanic ejecta from Tarawera, Professor Thomas ; volcanic ejecta from Tarawera, collected at East Cape, Archdeacon W. L. Williams ; volcanic ejecta collected at Waiotahi, E. P. Dumerque ; volcanic ejecta collected at Galatea, Professor Hutton; brick from the old Roman church of St. Panoras, Canterbury, G. Graham, Brighton, England. Previous Papers.—There being no discussions relative to the papers on thermal activity submitted at the two previous meetings, the chairman called on Air. Baber to read his paper as announced.

The Medicinal Properties of some New Zealand Plants.Mr. Baber commenced by saying that as the paper was the result of what he had gathered from old settlers and Maoris and a few personal observations its statements were open to enquiry. It appeared to him that by putting this information in a tabular form the attention of pharmacists might be attracted and more reliable results attained. The subjects treated were poisons, astringents, stimulants, and tonics, as follows :—Poisons : Tupakihi or tutu—Coriaria rußcifolia; wharangi or pukapuka—Brachyglottis reparda ; karaka—Corynocarpns lavigata ; waoriki—a poisonous grass ; anodynes —none ; cathartio—Phormium tenax ; demulcent —Kariao or supplejack—Ripogonium aecundus. Astringents : Koromiko—Veronica salicifolia; rata—Metrosiderus robustus; pohutukawaMetrosiderus tormentosa; rimu—Dacrydium cupressimum; manuka and tree fern gum. Stimulants : Kawakawa—Piper excelsus. Tonic : Kohekohe (native cedar)—Dysoxylune spectabile. It was not, he said, likely that a drug of specific value will be obtained from our plants, but he thought there was material for the preparation of some useful medicines to which pharmacists, following the example of Mr. Fitzgerald, of Wellington, may find it their interest to attend. Mr. James Stewart questioned the poisonous qualities of the pukapuka. It was another species which was poisonous. Dr. Murray Moore said the paper was most interesting, lie had made some experiments, some of which were not yet completed. He had ascertained the astringent powers of koromiko and ti-tree infusion, He then

referred to the poisonous qualities of the karaka berries when not properly treated as inducing paralysis, and quoted the observationo of Judge Maning. He gave an instance of the curing of a ca\e of dysentery by the use of the phormium tenax, and he thought! it would be of great advantage to the medical men of New Zealand and Australia to investigate these matters, but it required large investigation. He hoped, however, it would be the means of inducing others to give their observations, and he felt very much obliged to Mr. Baber for bringing the subject forward. Mr. Adams (Thames) also commented favourably on the paper, and referred to other papers, such as the toetoe, which had curative qualities, some of which were not even mentioned by Colenso. He pointed out that in the Kauaeranga, Thames, cattle turned out could eat tutu freely, although cattle fed on grass and allowed to eat it afterwards died, Down South it was much more fatal. He instanced other plants which might well be tried, commencing from Oolenso. Mr. btewart also drew attention to some peppery plants, of which either medicinal or other uses might be made. The Chairman said the paper was of great interest, as investigation might lead to the discovery of essential oils

of great commercial value, and it was important that settlers should know where information as to the properties of these plants could be ascertained. Mr. Baber briefly replied, and thanked them for the kind way the paper was received. His object was fully attained in the discussion that had taken place. PseolapidjM. —Captain Broun forwarded a paper 011 the subject of new species of pseclapidaa, or beetles. It was entirely a technical description of three new species. The, Two Theories : Evolution or Crbation. — Mr. J. Buchanan read a lengthy paper ou this subject. It was briefly criticised bv Mr. Josiah Martin, after which the discussion was postponed.