whether the quarries would be, commercially, a success. The Otago slate was more compact and impervious than the Welsh slate, and split well. In conclusion, he repeated what he had said at the outset, as to the paucity of informa tionon the building materials of Otago, and the importance of the question. He showed the importance of the collection and diffusion of knowledge of this kind throughout the Colony, and remarked that there had been no time in the history of Otago in which the choice of building material had so much importance as at present. The Colony was now in a state of transition between the timber and masonry periods ; they were leaving the frail and ephemeral, and entering on the strong and en during. They should, therefore, spare no pains in selecting the materials that were most con ducive to health and comfort, and that would remain for generations a record of then: skill and good taste.
It may be mentioned that] Mr Blair, before reading the paper, made some supplementary remarks on his former paper on the same sub ject^ illustrating them by anumber of specimens received from various places since the former occasion.
A discussion ensued en the various points brought out in the paper.
DEPUTATIONS.
The following is the calendar of prisoners for trial at the next Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court at Dunedin, commencing on Monday, 4th October, 1870, before His Honour Mr Justice Williams :—: —

Michael Gliding — stealing money from a hotel at Dunedin (two charges). Alfred Hutchinson, alias German Charley — burglary at Dunedin.
Thomas Dobson — stealing money from a hotel at Dunedin.
