1 873-] NOTES FROM NEW ZEALAND. 477 



report was read. The Committee had to regret a falling off in the success of the 

 Society. Three exhibitions were held during the j^ast year, the first in October, 

 the second in December, and the third in March. The exhibits were scarcely equal 

 to former ones ; and there had been a considerable falling off in the sums col- 

 lected at the doors. The October show, held in the Masonic Hall, in so far as 

 exhibits were concerned, was a decided success, but financially it was a total 

 failure, on account of the inclemency of the weather. The show in December 

 was much inferior, both in quantity and quality of exhibits, as compared with 

 shows of former years. At the March show held in the Headquarters Drill- 

 shed, there was a falling off in the takings, as compared with that of the previ- 

 ous year, to the amount of £24. The balance sheet was read, and showed a 

 balance to the credit of the society of £5, lis. 5d. The amount taken at the 

 three shows of the season was £40, Is. 6d. 



Grapes. — On the 14th of May there was exhibited in the shop of Mr Dunning, 

 fruiterer. Princes Street, Dunedin, a bunch of Black Hamburgs, which, in size 

 at least, has not been equalled in Dimedin. Before being disencumbered of 

 some of the damaged fruit, the cluster weighed 4| lb. They are a portion of 

 the first year's production, large in size, and of a sweet appetising quality. 

 They were grown in the vinery of Mr E,. Gillies, Park Street, without the aid 

 of artificial heat. 



Supply of- Fruit and Forest Trees. — The following colonial advertisement will 

 stand comparison with that of any of our home nurserymen. " Parties desirous 

 of obtaining Fruit and Forest Trees, &c., can arrange for a supi^ly at very 

 moderate rates. The following are some of the principal sorts — each in great 

 variety. Apples, Peaches, Nectarines, Pears, Cherries, Plums, Quinces, Apri- 

 cots, Almonds, Oranges, Olives, Figs, Vines, Mulberries, Walnuts, Filberts, 

 Chestnuts, Pomegranates, Pines, Cypress, Cedars, &c." Princes Street Cutting, 

 Dunedin. 



Exploration of the Alpine Flora of Nciu Zealand. — The following extracts 

 from a letter of Dr Lauder Lindsay, were read at a meeting of the Otago 

 Institute, on the 13th May. *' I am in a position now to give you further in- 

 formation about the movements of the Swedish Botanist who proceeds this year 

 to New Zealand, to explore its Alpine Flora. ... I have advised him to 

 devote attention mainly to the classes of plants not hitherto studied in New 

 Zealand ; so that his collection will be si;re to abound in novelties. . . . His 

 name is Dr Ivan Berggren, of the University of Lund, Sweden, where he holds 

 the oflSce of Docent of Botany and assistant Curator of the University Herbarium. 

 He is known to European botanists chiefly for his publications on Bryology ; 

 and his attention in New Zealand will no doubt be directed greatly to the 

 cjyptogamia, though he will collect phanerogams. His hobby is mountaineering, 

 and the study of Alpine Cryptogams. He has already done good service and 

 gained much valuable experiences in the Alps of Tyrol and Norway, as well as 

 in Greenland and Spitzbergen, and was prepared in New Zealand for all the 

 trials and troubles of glacier and Alpine exploration. . . . The cost will be 

 a serious matter to Dr Berggren, He proposes to devote a year to Alpine ex- 

 ploration in New Zealand. I should hope that the colonists will do what they 

 can to make his sojourn as little expensive as possible. His costs are to be 

 borne by the University of Lund and the Academy of Sciences of Stockholm ; 

 but in Scandinavia a little money goes a long way, and our friends there have 

 no idea of the cost of Colonial travel and living." After the reading of the ex- 

 tracts, the chairman suggested that the assistance of the Provincial Government 

 should be asked. The council of the institute resolved to act on the sugges- 



