NELSON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

Colonist, Volume XL, Issue 8956, 31 August 1897, Page 2

NELSON PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

At the meeting of the Nelson Philosophical Society last evening the Bishop of Nelson presided. Mr W. Martin was elected a member of the Society. There was a large display of presentations, which the Hon. Curator (Mr King3ley) explained. Mrs Ponsonby very generously had made a handsome presentation of about '300 shells from the Islands, sundry fossils, geological specimens, spears and clubs. Mr Chandler, of Wangapeka (through Mr Kingsley) presented a large piece of fossil resin ; Mr Wastney a curious specimen of basaltic ctysUls ; Mr Davis, late of the Sherry, a fine specimen of magnetite from the Baton ; Mr Frank Johnston presented the specimen of Majaqueas Parkinsoni exhibited at a previous i meeting ; Mr Kingsley specimens of fossils from the miocene-tertiary rocks collected in the Karamea and Sherry Rivers, also fac similes of the first letters of Columbus reporting the discovery of America, the original of which was sold a short time sines for £1,700. The members present spoke in high terms of appreciation of the kindness of the various donors, especially of Mr 3 Ponsonby, and a hearty vote of thanks was recorded on the minutes.

The President read an interesting paper on Zew Zea'and starfish, by H. Farquhav, of Wellington , describing various species peculiar to New Zealand. Mr Kingsley mentioned that Mr Lukins had supplied specimens to the author, one of which he proposed naming after Mr Lukins. Mr A. S. Atkinson laid on the table the last journal of the Linnamn Society of London, in which Mr Lukins' name i 3 mentioned as supplying Mr Farqnhar with specimens. Mr Lukins, on behalf of Mr Parquhar, presented mounted specimens of the Eehinoderms. Mr Kingsley then gave an account of his trip last February to the mountains at the head of the Wangapeka and Karamea rivers, By the aid of his lantern he threw on the screen a good number of photographs taken by him illustrating the wonderful scenery to be found among these mountains in the back country. Miss E. Harris, of Nile street, whose skill as a painter of New Zealand flowers is so well-known, kindly lent a beautiful colored sketch of some of the flower 3 collected by Mr Kingsley. This was greatly and most deservedly admired, and the thanks of the Society were tendered to Miss Harr?sA unanimous vote of thauks was given to. Mr Kingsley for his graphic and pictorial description of his trip, which was an able demonstration of the valuable aid of the camera in trips made to unfrequented, or, to most people, inaccessible districts.