Fourth Meeting. September 12, 1870.
Rev. Dr. Purchas, President, in the chair.

The election of the following new members was announced by the Secretary:—Walbanke B. Barber; H. Ireland, Waimate; and The Hon. Donald McLean.

The Secretary read a list of presentations to the Museum since the last meeting, which included upwards of one thousand specimens illustrative of the Natural History of New Zealand, from Dr. Hector, Director of the Colonial Museum at Wellington.

1. “On Carbonaceous Mineral found at Whangarei Heads,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S. (See Transactions.)

2. “Notes on recent additions to the Flora of New Zealand,” by T. Kirk. (See Transactions.) The following plants were described :— Hymenanthera latifolia, var. Tasmanica; Hibiscus diversifolius, Linum marginale, Apium leptophyllum, Callitriche Muellerii, Olea apetala, Gratiola latifolia, Potamogeton polygonifolius, and Scirpus fluitans.

Mr. Gillies remarked that, in addition to the localities for Hibiscus diversifolius mentioned by the author of the paper, he had seen the plant in great abundance in New Caledonia, and was much impressed by the resemblance of its handsome lemon-coloured flowers to those of a cotton plant (Gossipium, sp.), which has become wild in that island.

Remarks were made by Mr. D. Hay, Mr. Baber, and others.

3. “On the Artesian Wells of Napier,” by Captain F. W. Hutton, F.G.S. (See Transactions.)

Mr. Gillies pointed out the propriety of taking steps to ascertain the possibility of sinking such wells in this province. Obtaining a proper water supply for the City of Auckland by any of the methods yet proposed, could not be accomplished by provincial resources. He thought the cheapness of the Artesian well, and the facility with which it could be made, recommended it for use in a populated district like Auckland, where a supply of pure water was essential to the public health.

Mr. Stewart explained many of the points of difference and resemblance between the Artesian wells of London and of Paris.

Mr. D. Hay made interesting observations respecting the water supply frequently derived from scoria basins. He referred to a well sunk only a depth of 14 feet, in the Mount Eden Stockade, and which yields a good supply of excellent water.

Mr. Baber remarked on the probability that large bodies of water sometimes rose to a considerable height on the hills, and that these reservoirs existed even under the bed of the sea. He instanced a small island near Mangarei, on which was a spring yielding far more water than could possibly be furnished by the entire rainfall of the whole district.

The President stated that the old tertiary beds had not been so extensively broken up by volcanic disturbances as was generally supposed, consequently the water-bed had been less disturbed; in some localities the erupted matter facilitated the collection of water.

It was announced that papers read at any meeting of the Institute would remain open for discussion at the next following meeting.