On dusting vines and fruit trees, affected with blight, with flour of sulphur, etc.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 2, 1869, Page 396

By J.C. Crawford F.G.S. (3.) An instrument for dusting vines and fruit trees affected with blight, with flour of sulphur, etc., was then described by Mr. Crawford. It is much used in France, and would no doubt be useful here, and any tinman can make it; but as Mr. Travers and Mr. Richmond remarked, the true remedy for blight and creeping things of all kinds is the judicious importation of birds, bearing constantly in mind the complex way in which the law of “natural selection” operates on every kind of animal life. As an illustration Mr. J. C. Richmond stated that the honey-eating birds had almost disappeared in some districts, owing to the bees having deprived them of their natural food. (4.) A paper by Mr. Skey “On the Production of certain Crystalline Phosphates and Arseniates was read by Dr. Hector. (See ante, p. 146.) Mr. Richmond exhibited some native curiosities taken from Ngatapa, given to him by the East Coast friendlies; some Raupo bread, prepared from the pollen of the swamp flag, Typha angustifolia, being amongst them. Second Meeting. June 19, 1869. J. C. Crawford, F. G. S., Vice President, in the Chair. The Secretary laid on the table eleven publications which have been presented to the Society since the previous meeting. There were also several scientific works and periodicals placed on the table for the use of members of the Society, and eight volumes of the Catalogue of Fishes in the British Museum, presented to the Institute by the Trustees. The election of the following new members was then announced by the Secretary:—Messrs. W. Best, J. Martin, N. Marchant, T. M. Stewart, H. Willcox, and the Rev. H. W. Ewald. The Chairman, Mr. J. C. Crawford, then stated that as was the case last year, during the session of the Assembly the meetings of the Society would be at more frequent intervals, and that the next meeting would be held on the 17th of July. He then delivered the following Address. In opening the proceedings of the Wellington Philosophical Society for the session of 1869, it has fallen to my lot to make a few introductory remarks, and to glance at the events which have occurred since our meetings of last year. I will first congratulate the members of the Society on the receipt of the first volume of “Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute,” which has lately been put into our hands. It appears to me in every respect a most creditable production for a colony of an age of less than thirty years, and although its bulk has been materially increased by the incorporation of Essays, which were originally written for the New Zealand Exhibition, yet the mass of matter contained in the ordinary “Transactions and Proceedings” is ample, and full of information of more than ordinary interest. With regard to the Essays contained in this volume, I have been particularly struck with the care which has been bestowed upon those contributed by Mr. Colenso; and that, by him, on the “Maori Races,” I consider particularly interesting. As it appears to me that the usually received theory to account for the peopling of the Polynesian Islands (New Zealand inclusive) by the brown-coloured, Maori-speaking race, is quite untenable, I had commenced a paper on the subject, which I proposed to read at some meeting of this Society, but I find much that I had to say has been fore-

stalled by Colenso. I may perhaps still continue my paper, so as to bring on discussion and further consideration of the subject, for it appears to me one of very great interest. Taken in its narrowest limits, the Polynesian race extends from New Zealand to the Sandwich Islands, occupying a larger area of the earth's surface than any other unmixed race on the face of the globe. Over the whole of this area the language spoken, although composed of many dialects, is obviously, even to a casual observer, one language. Moreover, the race has certain physical peculiarities particularly distinguishing it. The people are large-limbed, and muscular, well featured in general, and possessed of great natural intelligence. To talk of this race as an Asiatic one, is to mislead entirely. The people are obstinate and determined to a degree, and differ from ordinary Asiatics both physically and mentally. That a race, spread over such an enormous area, and speaking one language, should have peopled the Polynesian Islands by derivation from the crews of some wandering Malay vessels, seems to me an effect, produced by a cause so inadequate, that it cannot be supported. Would it not also, prima facie, be more reasonable to trace the Malay from the Maori—the somewhat higher civilization from the lower—if, as I suppose, the Maori race to be a very ancient race, than the newer race from the older? Excepting the extent of the globe over which the English language has spread by colonisation during the last century or two, and that over which Spanish is spoken—brought about by similar causes—the Maori tongue is used over by far a larger surface of the earth than any other language. Although the effects of earthquakes are undoubtedly disagreeable, yet they are extremely interesting to science, and during the past year we have had considerable experience of them. It will hardly be necessary to remind you of the remarkable earthquake wave which visited our shores in August last, for a full description of the phenomenon appears in our “Transactions,” from the pen of Dr. Hector; and no doubt he will, during the present session, give us full details of the earthquakes of October 18th of last year, which were so generally felt throughout the colony. It seems probable that from the numerous points of observation in the Pacific which are now occupied by the restless and inquisitive colonists, whether of Great Britain or of the United States, the phenomena of earthquakes will be carefully watched, and possibly the laws which determine their recurrence may be arrived at. The earthquake which lately damaged Christ church appears to have been extremely local. It conveys a hint to all towns in New Zealand, that buildings which may stand in London will not do for this colony. I have always expressed the opinion that, prima facie, one part of New Zealand was as likely to suffer from earthquakes as another, and, therefore, that the inhabitants should build their houses with reference to that risk, wherever they might happen to be situated. It may be as well again to suggest that a more durable material than timber is desirable for building your houses, even in earthquake countries, and I would call attention to my paper upon concrete. During the past year the Thames Gold Fields have continued to be developed in a wonderful manner, and there is every reason to hope that when the country is open to “prospecting,” the area of the gold field will be largely extended. I hear also, from good authority, that auriferous quartz has positively been found in the Kaimanawa range, part of which range lies within the boundaries of this province. Lately some pyritous stone from the Wainuiomata Valley has proved auriferous; and although the percentage of gold is small, it tempts to further search and investigation. Quartz, showing a few specks of gold, has also been brought into town from Makara. It has also been reported that gold has been found in that part of the Ruahine range which lies near the Rangitikei river, but as reports of this character have been so frequent and so fallacious, it may be as well to suspend our judgment until we see the specimens. I am glad to find that the search is now for veins instead of for alluvial “diggings.” I was convinced years ago that the “alluvium” in this vicinity has been pretty well tried and found barren, or too poor to pay, and that the prospects of finding gold, if it was to be found, lay in the development of auriferous veins. The discovery of large quantities of Saurian bones at the Waipara river, in the Province of Canterbury, is an event of great importance, in a scientific point of view. I have to congratulate my old friend Mr. Hood, both on the original discovery of these fossils some years ago, and on his now having secured, at considerable trouble to himself, a number of valuable specimens which he has transmitted to England for examination by Professor Owen. Other specimens have lately been procured by Mr. R. L. Holmes, who was specially sent for that purpose, and which may now be seen in this Museum. I think it will be desirable for me to confine my remarks to subjects of colonial interest, although there are matters of science and discovery, which have cropped up during the year, and which might be noticed with advantage were it not that it would

swell the dimensions of the address too much. I would particularly refer to one subject, the measurement of an are at the Cape of Good Hope, the result of which measurement is to show that the Southern Hemisphere bulges as it were, or “has the mumps” as I have heard it graphically expressed. Thus the comparative low barometer in the Southern to that in the Northern Hemisphere is accounted for. The boundary of the atmospherical envelope being supposed to be in regular spheroidal gradation from the centre of the earth, if the surface of the globe is irregular that part which is furthest from the centre will of course have the least atmospheric pressure. I will mention, as a tribute to the sagacity of Dr. Hector, that some five years ago, in Dunedin, he explained to me the reason of the low barometer in the Southern Hemisphere, and his theory, then expressed, has now been proved correct by observation. In conclusion, I would particularly impress on the members of this Society, the necessity for striving to keep up its scientific tone, and for this purpose to provide as many good papers as possible to be read at the meetings. I would particularly call their attention to the “Transactions” of the Auckland Institute. Let us enter into a noble rivalry with them, or with any others of the affiliated societies. One advantage in a warfare of this is that no one is the loser. Supposing that we are beaten we have the advantage of the information supplied by our antagonist, if we can apply such a term to a member of the affiliated society. Let us then do our best. Papers read:— (1.) “On the Anatomy of the Swordfish of the Southern Seas,” by F. J. Knox, L. R. C. S. E. (See ante, p. 13). The author stated that European naturalists were very imperfectly informed about this species; he made frequent reference to a specimen on the table which has been presented by him to the Museum, and the points to which he drew especial attention were the following:— The existence of well-marked incurved teeth of small size, covering the interior surface of the jaws, and the sword-like prolongation. This circumstance is particularly noted, as characteristic of the genus Histiophorous, by Gunther, but has not been recognised as a structure essential to the method by which the swordfish captures its food. Dr. Hector stated that he understood from Dr. Knox that the whaler's account of the conflicts between the whale and the swordfish were only due to their rivalry for the purpose of obtaining the same food, which he believed to be the cuttle-fish or squid. He pointed out the great development of the eye and optic nerve, far in excess of all other similar sensory apparatus, also the contrivance by which the dorsal fin has both a lateral and longitudinal motion, no doubt for the purpose of enabling it to direct its aim with certainty when using its sword for impaling its prey. (2.) “Preliminary notice on the Effects of the Application of the Hot Blast to Blowpipe purposes,” by W. Skey. (See ante, p. 148.) The result of the author's experiments has shown that, by a very simple and inexpensive contrivance, platinum and other infusible substances can be melted, and the Bude light produced, and that the process could not fail to replace the dangerous and expensive oxy-hydrogen flame. The author promised, if possible, to demonstrate the process by experiments at the next meeting of the Society. (3.) “Remarks on the Coast Line between Kai Iwi and Waitotara, on the West Coast of the Province of Wellington,” by R. Pharazyn (the Hon. Sec.) (See ante, p. 158.) Several diagrams and sections explaining the author's views with regard to the origin of the great sandhill formation which surmount high cliffs overhanging the coast, were laid on the table. Dr. Hector, in the absence of Dr. Grace, exhibited a sample of the extract of beef prepared by Mr. Roberts, of Wanganui, on a new principle, by which many of the objections to the well-known Tooth's extract are considered to be avoided. The essential feature in the process is the extraction of the juice of the raw meat by direct pressure, after which it is evaporated to an extract. The sample appeared to be generally approved of. Third Meeting, July 17, 1869. J. C. Crawford, F. G. S., Vice President, in the Chair. The election of the following new members was announced, viz.:—Messrs. T. Buchanan, E. Gillon, and W. Luxford. The Honorary Secretary read a list of valuable scientific works, which have been presented to the Society by Mr. W. Lyon, F. G. S., to whom a vote of thanks was passed for his valuable donation. A communication was read from the Hon. the Colonial Secretary relative to the scholarships which were formed last year by Mr. Whitworth, whose name is so familiar in connection with the modern improvement in the manufacture of

fire-arms. These scholarships, thirty in number, of the annual value of £100 each, are for the purpose of assisting the study of the theory and practice of mechanics. The scholarships are now open to competition to all British subjects, and it appears that application has been made to ascertain whether colonial youths who compete may be examined by a Board locally appointed. The reply is in the negative, but with an assurance that the importance of making some such provision for the future will not be lost sight of. Dr. Hector directed attention to the skeleton of the elephant in the Museum, for which munificent donation the Institution is indebted to the Hon. John M ‘Lean, M. L. C., who secured the carcase and had the bones cleaned at very considerable expense, and with such care that the articulation of the skeleton was easily effected on its arrival at the Museum without further preparation.