ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE, 1878-79.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1879 Session II, H-07

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Sess. 11.—1879. NEW ZEALAND.

ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE NEW ZEALAND INSTITUTE, 1878-79.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of Sis Excellency.

The following are the dates on which meetings of the Board have been held since the publication of the last report —namely, 4th September and 10th December, 1878 ; 23rd January and 17th May, 1879. The members who retired from the Board in compliance with the Act were Messrs. Travers, Waterhouse, and Mason, all of whom were reappointed by His Excellency the Governor. The following gentlemen were elected Governors by the incorporated societies, under clause 7 of the Act:—The Hon. Robert Stout, M.H.R.; Thomas Kirk, F.L.S.; and Dr. Buller, C.M.G., F.R.S. The undermentioned names were added to the list of honorary members of the Institute: —Professor Max Miiller, the Rev. Tenison Woods, and Professor Garrod. The following list will show the number of members now on the roll of the Institute : — Honorary members ... ... ... ... ... 30 Ordinary Members. Auckland Institute ... ~. ... ... ... 276 Hawke's Bay Philosophical Society ... ... ... ... 74 Wellington Philosophical Society ... ... ... ... 251 Nelson Association ... ... ... ... ... 50 Westland Institute ... ... ... ... ... 133 Canterbury Philosophical Institute ... ... ... ... 109 Otago Institute ... ... ... ... ... 212 Total ... ... ... ... ... 1,135 The volume for the year (XI.) was received from the publishers towards the end of May, and copies are now being distributed to the members of the incorporated societies, and those persons and institutions mentioned in the appended free list. It has been found necessary this year, owing to the large increase in the number of members, which requires a corresponding increase in the number of volumes printed, to levy a proportional contribution (under clause d of the regulations) from each society of 2s. 6d. per volume, in order to meet the cost of publication, the annual vote being now insufficient for that purpose. Volume XL contains 86 articles and several short notices and abstracts, which appear in the Proceedings, 19 plates, and 625 pages of letterpress. The following are the sections of the work, as compared with last year's volume :—

1879. 1878. Pages. Pages. Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... 186 190 Zoology ... ... ... ... ... 216 154 Botany ... ... ... ... ... 66 78 Chemistry ... ... ... ... 26 36 Geology ... ... ... ... .. 22 48 Proceedings ... ... ... ... 66 63 Appendix ... ... ... ... 42 60 625 629

The volumes of Transactions now on hand are, — Vol. I, second edition, 440; Vol. 11., none ; Vol. 111., 8; Vol. IV., 6 ; Vol. V., 70 ; Vol. VI., 75 ; Vol. VII., 165 ; Vol. VIII., 33; Vol. IX., 170 ; Vol. X., 20; Vol. XL, The statement of accounts herewith shows a balance to the credit of the Board of £140 16s. 3d. The annual reports of the several departments attached to the Institute are also appended. James Hector, Approved by the Board, 21st July, 1878. Manager. Hercules Robinson, Chairman.

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List of Public Institutions and Individuals to whom the Transactions are Presented by the Governors of the New Zealand Institute. No. of Copies. No. of Copies. 1 His Excellency tire Governor, President of 1 University Library, Melbourne the Institute 1 Geological Survey of Victoria, Melbourne 11 Governors of the Institute 1 Legislative Library, Adelaido 30 Honorary Members 1 South Australian Institute, Adelaide 1 The Prime Minister 1 University Library, Adelaide 1 The Colonial Treasurer 1 Public Library of Tasmania, Hobart Town 1 The Native Minister 1 Royal Society of Tasmania, Hobart Town 1 The Under Secretary for the Colony 1 Free Public Library, Capetown 1 The Legislative Council 1 Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. 1 Tho House of Representatives 1 Geological Survey of United States Territory, 1 The Colonial Office, London Washington, D.C. 1 The Agent-General, London 1 American Geographical Society, New York 1 Messrs. Triibner & Co. (Agents), 57, Ludgate 1 American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia Hill, London 1 American Institute of Mining Engineers, Phila--1 British Museum, London delpbia 1 Linnean Society, London. 1 Franklin Institute, Philadelphia 1 Royal Society, London. 1 Academy of Natural Sciences Library, Phila--1 Eoyal Geographical Society, London delphia 1 Royal Asiatic Society, London 1 Academy of Natural Sciences, Buffalo 1 Royal Society of Literature of the United 1 Academy of Natural Sciences, San Francisco Kingdom 1 Academy of Natural Sciences, Davenport, lowa 1 Royal Colonial Institute, London 1 Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. 1 Geological Society, London 1 Royal Society of Literature and Arts of Belgium, 1 Zoological Society, London Brussels 1 Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and 1 Royal Imperial Institute for Meteorology and Ireland, London Earth Magnetism, Hohe-Warte, Vienna 1 Geological Surrey of the United Kingdom, 1 Jahrbuch der Kaiserlich-kdniglichen Gcologischen London Reichaanstalt, Vienna 1 Geological Magazine, London 1 Imperial German Academy of Naturalists, Dres--1 Geological Record, London den 1 Zoological Record, London 1 Phyeico-Economic Society of Konigsberg, East 1 Philosophical Society of Leeds, England Prussia 1 Literary and Philosophical Society, Liverpool, 1 Abhandlungen, Bremen England 1 R. Accademia dei Lincei, Rome 1 Literary Institute, Norwich, England 1 Imperial Museum of Florence 1 University Library, Oxford, England 1 Royal Geographical Society of Italy, Florence 1 University Library, Cambridge, England 1 Tuscan Natural Science Society, Pisa 1 School Library Committee, Eton, England 1 Editor of Cosmos, Turin 1 School Library Committee, Harrow, England 1 Royal Academy of Science, Stockholm 1 School Library Committee, Rugby, England 1 Botanic Society, Province of Brandenburg, 1 Natural History Society, Marlborough College, Berlin. England 1 Royal Society, Edinburgh Libraries and Societies in New Zealand. 1 Royal Botanic Garden Library, Edinburgh 1 Library, Auckland Institute 1 Geological Society, Edinburgh 1 Library, Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute 1 University Library, Edinburgh 1 Library, Wellington Philosophical Society 1 Philosophical Society of Glasgow 1 Library, Nelson Association 1 Royal Irish Academy, Dublin 1 Library, Westland Institute 1 Royal Society, Dublin 1 Library, Philosophical Institute, Canterbury 1 Asiatic Society of Bengal, Calcutta 1 Library, Otago Institute 1 Geological Survey of India, Calcutta 1 General Assembly Library 1 Geological Survey of Canada, Montreal 1 Library, New Zealand Institute. 1 Canadian Institute, Toronto 1 Literary and Historical Society of Quebec, Publishing Branch. Canada East 1 Editor 1 Royal Society of New South Wales, Sydney 1 Assistant Editor 1 Linnean Society of New South Wales, Sydney 2 Draftsmen 1 Public Library, Sydney 1 Lithographer 1 University Library, Sydney 1 Government Printer 1 Royal Society of Victoria, Melbourne 1 Photo-lithographer. 1 Public Library, Melbourne MUSEUM. The number of persons who visited the Museum during the year was 16,200 ; but, as many do not enter their names in the book kept for the purpose, this does not represent the actual number of visitors. The large attendance on Sunday afternoons shows that the privilege of visiting the building on that day is still appreciated by the public. There are 4,000 names entered in the book. The collections added to the Museum number 12,339, of which 11,816 were collected by the officers of the Geological Survey, the remainder having either been presented, purchased, or received in exchange. Herbarium. No additions of any importance have been made to the collections, principally owing to the want of accommodation ; and for the same reason the valuable collection of foreign plants from Kew, referred to in last report, is still inaccessible. Natural History Collections. Improvement has been made in the classification of the collections ; but, still, it is found impossible to effect any proper systematic arrangement without additional space, more especially in the zoological section. Mammalia. —The collections under this head have been rearranged, and aro now more conveniently placed for reference, full information regarding each order being given on tickets in the cases. Among the most important additions are a complete skeleton of Delphinus forsteri, obtained by

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purchase ; the skull of the male Dolicliodon layardii, presented by Dr. Muller, of Blenheim ; and a collection of marsupiate animals from Kawau Island, presented by Sir George Grey. Birds. —The. chief additions in this branch are a black skylark (Alauda arvensis), presented by Mr. George Hall; a fawn-coloured variety of the Native pigeon, Carpophaga nova; zealandiw, by Mr. Wise; a male lyre bird (Mennra superbd) ; and two specimens of the shy albatross, obtained by purchase. Dr. Buller records the first occurrence of this latter bird on the New 7 Zealand coast in a paper in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute, Vol. X., p. 217 (1877). The collections under this section have increased very considerably, but cannot be fairly represented until further space is provided. Reptilia. —Several fine specimens of the Tuatara lizard (Sphenodon punclatuiri) have been received from Captain Fair-child, who obtained them near Tauranga. A number of specimens of the more common kind of lizard have also been received. Fishes. —Although not many additions have been made to this class, some interesting specimens have been received—viz., Trachichthys irailli, collected by Mr. McKay, of the department; Argentina decagon, the type of Mr. Clark's new species ; and Tripterygiumjenningsii, Nototheniaparva, new species from the Auckland Islands, described by Professor Hutton, of Dunedin. Invertebrata.- —A large collection, comprisiug marine mollusca, sponges, polyzoa, Crustacea, and eehinoderms, was obtained by Mr. Kirk, of the department, on the west coast of the North Island, and a collection of corals and shells from Japan was presented by Mr. H. S. Tiflen, of Napier. Many other interesting specimens were received, the principal being the beak, cuttle-bone, and suckers of a monster cuttle-fish, the body of which measured eleven feet. Ethnological. —The most interesting additiorrs under this section are the head of a supposed Moriori god, carved in pumice, presented by Mr. A. Clouglr, of the Chatham Islands ; a typical slurll of the Polynesian race, by Dr. Hector; specimens of gritstone, used by the Maoris for grinding down greenstone, by Mr. J. White ; and specimens of Japanese paper string, &c, by Mr. IT. S. Tiffen of Napier. Minerals. —During the past year about 300 specimens of minerals and rocks have been collected by the officers of'the Geological Department. Among them are collections which I obtained, illustrating the progress of various mining ventures on the West Coast; from the Thames Gold Eielcl, White Island, and Trrhua, and from the newly-discovered coal fields on the west coast of the North Island. I also collected a number of mineral specimens of considerable interest during an examination of the auriferous district north of the Wakatipu Lake, irr which quartz-reefing evinces a renewal of its former activity. Mr. Cox brought a collection of rocks from the Greenstone River, on Lake Wakatipu, and also several specimens of copper ore and magnetite from D'Urville Island. A very interesting and unique form of copper ore has also been obtained from Aniseed Valley, in connection with the Dun Mountain mineral belt, consisting of a granular serpentine, containing about 5 per cent, of metallic copper, dispersed through the mass of the rock in fine grains. This discovery, if followed up, may perhaps lead to some rich copper deposit, but at present it does not appear to be of much commercial importance. The greater number of the remaining specimens were collected by Mr. McKay from the mountainous district lying between Nelson and the Wairau Eiver, and from various points along the Mount Arthur range. Amongst these are some valuable specimens of brown hematite from Mount Peel, containing 54 per cent, of metallic iron. This ore is associated with fine-grained breccias, dark slates, weathering white, and heavy beds of compact blue crystalline limestone, which overlie the great series of breccia beds and conglomerates which form the western part of the Mount Arthur range. It is largely developed in a north-westerly direction from Mount Arthur, striking in the direction of the ranges west of the Takaka Valley. At the place where the specimens were obtained, the bed might be about 50 feet thick, besides which isolated masses 10 feet to 15 feet across were observed occurring in the dark slates. North of the Takaka River a much greater devoloprnent of the ore takes place, and diggers who have visited the locality report the deposit as being about a mile in width. It is probable that this deposit of brown hematite is a continuation of the Parapara ore; and, the specimens brought being taken from the surface, when sunk upon this ore will most probably change to red hematite, which, when pure, would contain about 70 per cent, of iron. Mr. McKay followed this deposit for about three miles in length. Marbles of various qualities are represented from the Mount Arthur range, together with granites, hornblendic, eruptive, and serpentinous rocks associated with the Upper and Lower Silurian beds. To the same period should probably be referred the beautiful white statuary marble and the dove-coloured "fortification" marble of Caswell Sound, on the west coast of Otago, which are now being placed in the market by a company that has been formed to work the quarries. The samples received in the Museum indicate it to he a marble of very superior quality for ornamental and building purposes. The geology of the southern part of the Provincial District of Wellington has also received further illustration in the shape of a number of metalliferous and rock specimens, including specimens of iron, manganese, limestone, serpentinous and eruptive rocks; and from Jenkins Hill, Nelson, another specimen of carbonate of iron, containing 40'S per cent, of that metal, has been collected, thus addirrg another locality from which this valuable ore has been obtained. It occurs here under similar conditions to the ore of the same character previously described from Mr. Eoote's colliery at the Miranda Redoubt, and is associated with the coal measures. Paleontology. Geological Survey Collections. The fossil collections made during the past year have been both large and important, anci represent a great variety of formations ranging from recent times to Lower Silurian. In the North Island the principal collections have come from the Miocene and Cretaceous beds developed on the West Coast in the Mokau District, while from the East Coast small but important collections have been made. In the Napier District Mr. McKay succeeded in finding Ammonites in

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the chalk-marls of the Waipawa Gorge, thus confirming the Cretaceous age of the beds which had been previously assigned to them, chiefly on account of their mineral character. In the same district freshwater deposits, containing fossils, were discovered on the banks of the Waipawa River; but it is yet uncertain whether these beds form part of the series underlying the Scinde Island beds, or were deposited in lakes, which were spread over the district after the last elevation of land in Pleistocene times. Farther south in the Provincial District of Wellington the chief collections have been made from the tertiary beds which form high cliffs along the shore of Palliser Bay. The higher beds occurring in these cliffs contain Pliocene fossils, and rest unconformably upon the Lower Miocene and Upper Eocene deposits below. The only other discovery of importance in the North Island is the occurrence of the Mount Torlesse Annelid at Karori, in the neighbourhood of Wellington, which fossil, although widely distributed iv the South, has not hitherto been found in the North Island. The largest collections made during the past year come from the northern part of the Nelson Province, from the Triassic rocks occurring at the Wairoa Gorge, and their south-west extension to Eighty-eight Valley, the collections are as near as may be exhaustive. The difference between the fossils of the Oreti, Wairoa, and Otapiri series, which have a thickness of 8,000 feet, and represent the Trias formation in New Zealand, is far less than between the Oreti and Kaihiku series, several species found in the Oreti series being common to the Wairoa series, and one or two to the Otapiri series, while but orre fossil is common to the Oreti aird Kaihiku series. Ammonites of the Jurassic aird Liassic types are found, with Nautilus reticularis, in the lowest beds of the Middle Wairoa series ; while Belemnites and Jurassic Terebratulidae characterize the lower beds of'the Otapiri series, the latter being again found in the lower beds of the Wairoa series. It is interesting to note the disappearance of Spiriferina of the rostrata group in the upper beds of the Monotis sandstone, its place being taken in the lower beds by the new genus Psioidea, Spiriferina again appearing in the Kaihiku beds as forms which in general outline closely resemble the Jurassic species. Not the least interesting discovery made in these beds is represented by a collection of plants from the lowest beds of the Otapiri series, immediately above the Monotis sandstone, in which a species of Glossopteris occurs. Erom the Kaihiku series (Permian) exactly the same fossils have been obtained which were found iv Southland last year, only the forms are larger, aud altogether form a more attractive collection. Eurlher collections were also made from the Carboniferous limestone, which has been shown to separate the Maitai slates from the Dun Mountain crystalline belt. Yew additions to the species found last year have been obtained; but a choice collection of large and well-preserved Spirifers, as well as further specimens of Productus and corals, have been obtained. In the western part of this district, the Upper Silurian rocks of the Baton River were largely collected from, arrd the following forms have been recognized: Calymene blumenbachii, Homalonotus knightii, Murchisonia ierebralis, Avicula subplana, Modiolopsis modiolaris, Orthonota solenoides, Nucula leva/a, Spir/fera radiata, Spirifera sulcata, Rhynehonella ivilsoni, Atrypa reticularis, Orthis fissicostata, Orthis protensa, Strophomena corrugitella, &c. These last beds rest unconformably upon a still lower fossiliferous series, from which Graptolites are reported to have come ; but Crinoid remains, and one Cora), were all the fossils which could be obtained in this district. They must, however, from their position, be at least Lower Silurian in age. A considerable collection was made from the Cretaceo-tcrtiary beds of the district, and some good specimens of Moa bones obtained from the caves on the table-land west of Mount Arthur. The importance of correlating the geological formations of New Zealand with those of Australia has rendered it necessary to devote a great deal of time to tho selection and thorough arrangement of a complete mineral and fossil collection, comprising over 2,000 specimens, for the Sydney Exhibition, from the stores of the Geological Department. This collection is to be illustrated by a special report, witlr maps and sections, bringing up the knowledge of the subject to the latest date, so as to furuish complete material for a conference with Australian geologists, the result of which may be of considerable advantage to this colony. Publications. The Museum and Laboratory Report, and the volume of Reports of the Geological Survey for last year, have been issued during the recess, and those for the current year are now ready for the press. A large amount of the material, both letterpress and plates, is in readiness for the first of a series of publications illustrative of the palaeontology of New Zealand. The earliest-issued parts of this work will comprise the fossil flora and the Brachiopoda of the Lower Mesozoic formations. The illustrated work on the grasses of New Zealarrd, by Mr. Buchanan, is making good progress, considering the difficulties to be contended with in bringing out such an exterrsive aud laborious work. Parts I. and IT, comprising twenty-one folio plates, were issued last year, aud Parts 111. and IV. are now ready for the binder. The letterpress of the remainder of the work is now in the printer's hands, but some months will be required to complete the plates. The whole of the work is being reprinted in a cheaper form, in octavo, for general circulation, the folio plates being reduced by photo-lithography as soon as impressions are obtained, so that the smallsized volume will be ready for issue immediately on the completion of the larger work. The great advance in our knowledge of the natural history of the country, and the demand which exists on the part of students for the various descriptive catalogues that have been issued by the department, all of which are now out of print, has rendered the preparation of fresh editions necessary. A complete revision of the Mollusca, by Professor Hutton, will be the first of this series, and is now in press. Dr. Buller has undertaken the production of a revised handbook of the birds, and the necessary illustrations are in preparation. A systematic work on the fishes, embodying information of a more popular nature respecting the edible species, and very thoroughly illustrated by wood-cuts, is also in an advanced state, and arrangements have been made for completing the series in other sections of zoology.

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A most valuable original work on the Coleoptera of New Zealand, by Captain Brown, has been placed at the disposal of the department for publication, and Government has authorized the necessary expenditure. This work, which has involved great labour in its preparation, contains descriptions of 1,050 species of beetles, a large proportion of which are new. A leading naturalist has expressed his opinion that no country outside Europe and America has such a complete descriptive catalogue of this class of animal life, a thorough knowledge of which is of the utmost practical importance to the agriculturist. A work descriptive of the economic minerals of New Zealand, embodying all the results of the work done in the laboratory since its establishment —part of which only has hitherto been published— is being prepared for press with the assistance of Mr. Cox, and it is hoped may be issued some time during the year. Meteorology. Observations are taken continuously on a uniform system, by the use of registering instruments, at the following stations, fifteen in number: —Mongonui, Auckland, New Plymouth, Napier, Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Cape Campbell, Christchurch, Bealey, Hokitika, Dunedin, Queenstown, Wallacetown, Waitangi (Chatham Islands). The observations are taken at 9.30 each morning. At the end of the month the returns are completed and forwarded to the head office at Wellington, when, after having been examined, corrected, and reduced, the results are prepared for publication in the Gazette. At the end of the year, the monthly sheets from these fifteen stations are averaged, and a comparative table, showing the climate of New Zealand for the year, prepared, and the whole forwarded to the Registrar-General for publication with the statistics of the colony. A. monthly return is prepared for publication with " Vital Statistics," from information received by telegram from the six principal stations. A return is also furnished to the Press by the Wellington Observer, giving the daily readings, with averages and remarks, for each month for that place. A special yearly report is made on the climate of New Zealand, including results from all stations, as compared with previous years, for publication in the volume of Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. A return, giving an abstract of the weather for the year, is also furnished for insertion in the yearly " Wellington Almanac." Every two years a report is published in a pamphlet form, containing all the results of meteorological observations, and arranged in a convenient form for reference and comparison, together with all extra information from other than official sources on the subject, and giving diagrams and curves of the principal readings. Time-Ball Observatory. The astronomical observations required for giving mean time for the use of the Telegraph Department and throughout the colony are taken, as hitherto, by the Yen. Archdeacon Stock ; but the Observatory has lost a valuable amateur assistant through the death of Mr. John Kebbell, who for many years past devoted a great deal of his time and unrivalled mechanical skill t.o its interests. A vote was obtained last session for the supply of a second rating clock and chronograph, and the necessary order has been sent to the Agent-General, with instructions to obtain it from the best maker in London. The time-ball at Wellington is dropped by the Observatory clock, and the same time is supplied for dropping the time-ball at Lyttelton ; but in neither case is the dropping-machine under the control of this department. It is very desirable that some uniform system of distributing correct time to the most important seaports should be organized, as inaccurate time-balls are apt to mislead ships' captains, who are accustomed to seaports in other countries where extreme importance is attached to the accuracy of the time-ball service. Laboratory. The number of analyses performed in the Colonial Laboratory during the past year is 235, which makes up the total number to 2,401." These are subdivided as follows, the same classification being used as heretofore : — Coals and oils ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 Rocks and minerals ... ... ... ... ... 35 Metals and ores ... ... ... ... ... ... 52 Examinations for silver and gold ... ... ... ... 88 Waters ... ... ... ... ... ... 15 Miscellaneous ... ... ... ... ... ... 33 Certain special processes have been employed in different examinations which have been conducted during the past year, and a description of these will be found in the usual report, with the results obtained in the various samples to which they refer. All analyses of interest or importance have been also reproduced in full, together with such notes as have been furnished to the contributors in reporting on the specimens submitted for examination. Library. Two hundred volumes have been added to tho Library since June, 1878. They consist chiefly of the publications of British and foreign scientific societies, received in exchange for the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. The whole of the books have been systematically arranged, and a catalogue made; but here, as in other parts of the Museum, the want of sufficient space leads to great inconvenience. 2—H. 7.

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Accounts of the New Zealand Institute, 1878-79. Receipts. £ a. d. Expenditure. £ a. fd Balance in hand 4th September, 1878 ... 37 110 For extra copies of Vol. IX. ... ... 10 17 6 Vote for 1878-79 ... ... ... 500 0 0 On account of printing Vol. XI. ... ... 477 0 0 Contribution from Wellington Philosophical Miscellaneous items (including binding, woodSociety (one-sixth annual revenue) ... 35 17 6 cuts, &c.) ... ... ... ... 29 15 1 Received from incorporated societies under Balance ... ... ... ... 140 16 3 clause d of regulations of Institute, in aid of publishing Vol. XI. ... ... 78 2 6 Sale of volumes ... ... ... 7 7 0 £658 8 10 £658 8 10 A. Stock, 21st July, 1879. Treasurer.

By Authority : Gbokge Didsbxtry, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB79.

Price 6d.]