organic substances, but this need not be confined to the palæozoic rocks. A popular impression exists that the only rocks in our geological scale which contain carbonaceous remains are those of the carbuniferous age; but Professor Peckham thinks it is very probable that carburetted-hydrogen gas and petroleum are derived from microscopic animals. When examining the oil-bearing strata in the Poverty Bay district lately, the question that occurred to him was whether the porous sands which contain the gas and oil were sufficiently thick to form reservoirs. There is no doubt as to the porosity of the seams on examining the strata in the gorge of the Waipaoa River: there are alternate bands of very porous sandstone, full of fissures and cracks, lying in almost a horizontal position among the calcareous marl. If thick porous beds of sandstone or limestone occur lying in the same manner where the oil is found they would form a large reservoir for the oil; therefore, before we can determine whether there is likely to be a good supply of oil obtained at the place where the present operations are carried on by the South Pacific Company, far more information is required to form data from which to give an opinion on the subject. He then read an extract from a paper read by Charles A. Ashburner before the American Institute of Mining, Engineers: “In all geological ages prior to the carboniferous there did not exist sufficient land-vegetation to form extensive coal-beds; but the fossil remains of water-plants amply attest the fact that there was buried in the rocks below the carboniferous a great abundance of vegetable forms. Even in the Laurentian rocks of Canada, far below where I believe it is possible to find natural gas, there is a large accumulation of carbonaceous material in the form of graphite, which is now universally conceded to have been derived from the remains of vegetation. These plants belonged to the lower forms of vegetable life, as the animal remains of which many of our limestones are composed belonged to the lower forms of animal life. The latter are no doubt the source of the large amount of both oil and gas derived from the limestone beds. According to researches made by Professor Peckham in Southern California, the petroleum and gas there are very probably derived from microscopic animals.” In reply to Mr. McKay's questions, Mr. Park said that the gas-spring at Blairlogie occurred in the cretaceous rocks. As to the gas-spring at the Pahaoa River, the gas was sulphuretted hydrogen, which was inflammable, but no indication of oil. As to the average width of the oil-belt, he said that, although over twenty miles in some places, it was only a few chains at others. Five miles was a fair average. Mr. Park thanked Mr. Paterson for his valuable information regarding the shale industry in Scotland. He believed the shales of New Zealand would in time be turned to profitable account. In reply to Mr. Gordon, he said that petroleum occurred in rocks of all ages, from the silurian epoch up to the present time. The origin of the oil was not so important as the discovery of the strata which yielded it.

2.“On a Curious Feature in a Marsh Plant (Glossostima), by C. W. Lee. (Transations, p. 108.) 3.“On the Production of Artificial Chromes for Ornamental Purposes,” by W. Skey. (Transactions, p. 359.) Fifth Meeting: 12th September, 1888. W. M. Maskell, F.R.M.S., President, in the chair.

Papers.—1. “The Late Earthquake (1st September, 1888), and its Bearing on the Architecture of Wellington,” by W. M. Maskell, F.R.M.S.