On Runes.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 13, 1880, Page 439

3. “On Runes,” by Neil Heath, F.G.S. The author stated that the origin of the so-called Runic alphabets, had engaged the attention of the most distinguished philologists. Some of the characters bore a resemblance to one or more of the older languages—Latin, Greek, or Phœnecian. He considered that the hypothesis which derived the runes from a Phænician source, though it might account for some similitude, left many of the characters and matters connected with them, wholly unexplained. The first nine letters of the Roman alphabet bore a striking resemblance to the corresponding runic letters, but the remainder were not accounted for in any way. He was of opinion that if the runes were carefully compared with the Greek alphabet, the whole of them could be traced back to some early Greek forms, or to a combination of forms to be accounted for on well-known principles. Drawings of the old Runic characters, showing their correspondences and differences, were exhibited. 4. The President said that his attention had been directed to the presence of a species of house-ant in several localities in Auckland, evidently a recent importation from abroad. He wished that some member of the Institute would take the matter up, and give some information as to the habits of this stranger.