He stated that the three distinguishing marts of a New Zealand chief were a mere poanamu, a dog-skin mat, and a house like this. It was only chiefs, men who were well skilled in the art of carving, who owned such buildings. On great occasions, the chiefs only were admitted.
In reply to some questions put to him, Tareha said that it took the tribe about five years to prepare the carved posts. Each figure had something distinctive about it, but he would have to examine closely before he could say who was represented by each. The tools formerly used in the construction of such buildings were made of bone, and were of very ancient origin, having been brought from the land originally inhabited by the Maori; in later times hard stone was used instead. All those who came first in the Tanetewa canoe were well skilled in carving; this was one of the great works of their descendants. The name of the man who invented painting was Tuaneko. The ancient god of carving was Taukaruo.
A general vote of thanks was awarded to Tareha by the meeting at the conclusion of his address, in acknowledging which, Tareha said he did not think he could undertake to give a history of all the persons represented by the figures, on which much dependence could be placed. He doubted much whether he was sufficiently well acquainted with the subject to do so.
4. "A preliminary Notice on the recently experienced Earthquakes and Tidal Phenomena," by J. Hector, M.D., F.R.S. (Transactions, p. 35.)
In answer to Mr. Pharazyn, Dr. Hector said it was not merely the height of the wave that led him to believe the centre of disturbance to have been at a distance. The intervals between the waves were equally long in the case of the earthquake at Japan, in 1853, which he had cited in the course of his remarks, but yet their effect was only detected by the use of instruments of great delicacy; whereas the recent waves on this coast had been obvious to the most casual observer. The only remaining conclusion, if they did not originate at a distance, was, that they originated in a series of shocks at close intervals; but this did not explain the other phenomena.
Dr. Hector then drew the attention of the meeting to some very inexpensive instruments for showing the vibration of the earth, both lateral and perpendicular, which were on the table.
5. A Process for desilvering Gold, like that obtained at the Thames diggings, was next described in a paper by Mr. Skey. (Transactions, p. 47.)
After some remarks from Mr. Crawford, Dr. Hector observed that the importance of this new method was very great, when it was remembered that there was a proportion of about 35 per cent. of silver in the gold found in that district; a matter of great importance with bankers and other exporters of gold, particularly as the process described was simple and inexpensive.
