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Abstract

The monthly evening meeting of the Society was held on Tuesday, the
9th July, His Excellency the Governor in the chair.
-The Secretary read a paper by Mrs. Charles Meredith, descriptive of
the form and character of several specimens of the sea Annelida, or "sea
worms" found in the kelp at Prossers' bay, and representative of the families
of Nereididele, Serpulidae and Terebellidae. Generically they are to
be classed under Nereis, Sabella, and Terebella, but it is probable that as
to species they are new to science. All the species referred to in the paper
were depicted by the writer in beautifully executed water-colour drawings.
-Mr. T. Stephens read "Notes on a visit to the Hot Spring near South
Port in 1877."
-His Excellency thought Mr. Stephens' suggestion of decomposing
pryites being the source of heat in this case, was probably correct, but he
was not certain that this could apply to the hot water and mud springs in
New Zealand, which extended over a very large area. These springs,
which he had visited many years ago, presented some very peculiar
features; for instance, an individual seated in one with water at a comfortable
temperature, might hold in his hand a net containing vegetables,
and, without moving, could cook them by dipping the net in a boiling
spring close to him. The deposit between the springs seemed to be a
sort of tufa, or a mixture of lime and silex. The formation of the country
in the immediate vicinity, appeared to be recent, and as far as he (the
Chairman) could recollect there was no rock in situ, though Plutonic
and Metamorphic rocks existed in the neighbourhood.
-The Secretary remarked as to boiling springs, and similar phenomena
that the Yellowstone region of North America threw all the Geysers of
Iceland, and the hot water and mud springs of New Zealand, into comparative
insignificance. So great were the wonders of this extraordinary
region, and so vast was the scale on which they occurred, that the United
States Government had wisely reserved it for all future time as a public
park and a play-ground for the American Nation.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Royal Society of Tasmania
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, Van Diemens Land, VDL, Hobart Town, natural sciences, proceedings, records
Journal or Publication Title:	Papers & Proceedings and Report of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Collections:	Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:	In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to Royal Society of Tasmania.
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