746 Proceedings. 



son, B. C. Aston, B. Melland, Crosbie Smith ; Hon. Secretary 

 — A. Hamilton; Hon. Treasurer — J. S. Tennant; Atidilor — 

 D. Brent. 



Address by the President, Mr. F. E. Chapman. 



Abstract. 



The President thanked the members of the Society for his re-election, 

 but remarked thac he supposed be liad been proposed for a new term in 

 consideration of his not having performed the duties during the past term. 

 He also felc he had cause for thankfulness on account of his colleagues 

 who had been elected. He proposed in his opening address, which he 

 liad not had time to prepare, to speak upon a subject which was becoming 

 more and more one of general interest to all civilised communities — the 

 conservation of scenery and of the natural objects connected with scenery. 

 The subject, he remarked, was one that bad received attention in all parts 

 of the world, but up to a comparatively recent period it had not been 

 deemed worthy of being included in the programme of State policy. The 

 speaker spoke of the scenery of Switzerland and Alaska and Australia and 

 New Zealand, referring to the means which were adopted for the conser- 

 vation of natural beauties and places of interest. One of the greatest 

 acquisitions in this colony was the national park acquired by the colony 

 in the centre of the North Island some years ago, which had been a gift to 

 the people by the Maori ow^ners. There was in almost every countv in 

 Nev7 Zealand, the President remarked, some object worthy of preserving, 

 and be wished to add his testimonv to that of others as to the usefulness 

 and attractiveness of such objects, and to urge upon people everywhere 

 to priz'.' and take care of little pieces of scpnerv in their own districts. 

 It seemed to him, for instance, that such a place as the Nuggets sdould 

 have been preserved. It seemed to him a pity that a considerable area 

 had not been reserved there, as being the nearest place where they could 

 get permanently and easily preserved a perfectly rough piece of ground 

 as a park for an outlet for the people of Duuediii. It was [not possible 

 to conserve the bush in the hills here, because settlement must, as a 

 matter of necessity, go on, but at the Nuggets there was a good deal of 

 land that might have been preserved in its natural state. Whether or 

 not the land was all alienated from the Crown he did not know, but if 

 any was left it was certainly desirable to preserve some part of it as a 

 national park between the Nuggets and the nearest point of Catlin's 

 Beach. Local parties should form committees and local bodies sub- 

 committees to take an interest in preserving places of natural beauty for 

 the public and from destruction. 



Mr. A. Bathgate expressed regret that the Water of Leith Valley had 

 not been preserved for the public. At the present time picnic parties 

 could not go to any suitable spot near Dunedin without trespassing on 

 private property. 



Mr. J. Allen, M.H.R., suggested that societies such as the Institute 

 should bring under the notice of the Government spots that ought to be 

 preserved as national parks, and that something should be done to re- 

 cover suitable areas round about Dunedin for the enjoyment of the 

 people. 



IMr. Chapman, in liis reply, said that the scenery on the West Coast, 

 to which reference liad been made, was indestructible — the Sounds could 

 take care of themselves ; but there was not occasion to alienate land 

 there, for when settlement did go there it would be purely fishermen's 

 settlements. As to reserves near towns, he had thought a good deal 

 about that question. The only way to get them was to pay for them. 

 Unfortunately, the land was alienated, and the process of destruction 

 was going on. There was still a beautiful bush area under Flagstaff, 



