^''jg'j Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. 89 



as we could, and I am glad to say we had the support of all 

 the clubs, and more especially of the A.N. A. They are very 

 strongly with us, and I hope that the result of that will be that 

 there will be no leasing of land for mining purposes in the 

 Promontory. We must leave no stone unturned to achieve 

 that result. The forces against us are very strong, of course, 

 at the present time. No one who feels what the Empire needs 

 would like to feel they were hurting the Empire, but what we 

 do feel is that the claims that have been put before the Minister 

 to obtain the minerals on the Promontory are rather feeble. 

 There are, of course, many other parts of Australia and Vic- 

 toria which could more easily be exploited than the Prom- 

 ontory. This society was the first to move in the direction 

 of having the Promontory preserved. It is quite possible 

 that the Minister of Mines may go down and see that great 

 extent of country apparently idle ; it is, and we hope it will 

 remain so. The deputation was successful, and the repre- 

 sentatives of the Club are doing their best to see that the area 

 be maintained always as a National Park." 



The president said that there was some danger of the Minister 

 going down there uninstructed from the society's point of 

 view. It was impossible, in the time of a deputation, to cover 

 all the ground without weaiying the interviewed one ; but 

 what did the average Minister know about natural history ? 

 The park was for more than large animals like kangaroos, 

 emus, and the like. The platypus, water-rat, bandicoot, and 

 other shy creatures were desired to multiply there, and the 

 Minister might easily go down and see nothing of these timid 

 ones of the sanctuary. Tin-mining, if allowed, would make 

 their increase impossible, and their extermination probable. 

 He thought that a representative of the Club should be 

 appointed to go down with the- Minister if the opportunity was 

 offered. 



Sir Baldwin Spencer urged the utmost vigilance Ijy the Club 

 and individual members. He moved, and Mr. Pitcher seconded, 

 a resolution that Mr. Kershaw, F.E.S., represent the Club. 

 The resolution was carried unanimously. 



Brisbane Ranges. — Mr. St. John gave notice of his intention 

 to move later for action towards reservation of the Brisbane 

 Ranges as a National Park, which could be visited in a day's 

 excursion. Mr. Chas. French, jun., said he favoured and 

 would support the proposal. 



WILD-FLOWER SHOW. 



The president said that the show arrangements were well 

 in hand, and he reported progress of the show committee's 

 work. The hon. editor, Mr. Barnard, was in Western Aus- 



