FOSSIL RECORDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 8

FOSSIL RECORDS.

VOICES FROM THE DIM PAST. The opening meeting for the year of the Otago Institute took place at the University Museum on Tuesday, when the president (Dr W. N. Benson) delivered the presidential address. His 6ubject was “New Zealand s Oldest Fossils,” and the address was illustrated by lantern slides and accompanied by numerous fossil exhibits. Dr Benson said that in choaing a subject he had been influenced by the thought that it was a matter of much interest to be able to conjure up what New Zealand was like in remote ages. The group of graptolies of which he was to -peak was, however, of much more than local intenest. They were a simple group in which it was possible to trace the whole history of their evolution and from them much might be. learned. Geological time was broadly divided into three periods, cannozoic, mesozoic, and palaeozoic. The palaeozoic period was divided again into the penman carboniferous Devonian, Silurian, ordovician and Cambrian. The oldest beds found in New Zealand, at Preservation Inlet, lay somewhere about the boundary line between the ordovician and cambrian periods. Some traces bad been found of upper Silurian times and also of fossils between the carboniferous and permian periods, but apart fsom these, there were gTeat gaps. The first elides used indicated the prohable distribution of land and water in the Austrlasian Continent during different geological periods. The graptolites with which the paper chiefly dealt extended from ordovician to Silurian times, but it was only in ordovician times that they had been found in New Zealand. The next slides illustrated the graptolite in various forms and the distinct evolutionary tendencies in certain directions of w'hich the fossil remains give conclusive evidence. The lecturer traced how certain forms of graptolite rose to a maximum of complexity and then returned to. earlier more simple forms. The tendencies to -looping and t-o lobation were shown to have risen to an acme and then regressed, while the tendency to isolation proceeded to an extreme and came to an end without regression. It was carried so far that it became fatal to the organism. The mighty group had risen to these forms lie had described, and then declined until the descendant in distant ages was indistinguishable from its remote ancestor. The graptolites were by for the most important of the organisms by which geologists might ascertain the age of rocks. They were of all forms the most fitted for ready transport, and were carried about by sea currents to all parts of the world. The group had a history of constant and steady alteration. Such a group might be expected to throw some light oil the problem of evolution. He explained the mechanist and vitalist views of evolution, remarking that the former was probably the orthodox at the present time. The lecturer discussed the bearing of the liistoiy of the graptolites on certain aspects of evolution. He found evidence in favour of regarding evolution as a working out of inherent potentialities largely independent of circumstances. Professor Park proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to the president, which was carried by acclamation. Mr H. Brascb caused some amusement by asking the president “w'hat sort of a beast this animal was?” After the president had replied those present adjourned for social supper.