2 2 Field Naturalists' Club -Proceedings. P'""];,,!!"'" 



He also read an interesting botanical rei)ort furnished by Dr. 

 Sutton and Mr. P. R. H. St. John. 



A report of the junior excursion to the Zoological Gardens 

 on Saturday, 6th May, was, in the absence of the leader, Mr. 

 ]. A. Leach, M.Sc, given by Mr. C. Stout, the hon. secretary 

 for juniors, who said that there had been a good attendance of 

 members. The afternoon had been set apart for the study 

 of birds, and the leader had, by means of the numerous kinds 

 on exhibition, been able to point out the chief characteristics 

 of different groups of birds and their systematic arrangement, 

 which had resulted in a very pleasant and instructive after- 

 noon being spent, election of member. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. J. Firth, Briagolong. was duly 

 elected a country member of the C'lub. 



CENEKAL BUSINESS. 



Noniinations for ottice-bearers for the year iqii-12 were 

 then made, with the exception of the othce of hon. assistant 

 secretary and librarian, for which no nomination was received. 



Messrs. D. Best and J. Stickland were elected to audit the 

 accoinits for 1910-11. 



]\Ir. (ieo. C'oghill drew attention to the newsi>aper rejiort of 

 the proposal, as the result of a report of a sub-committee of 

 the Cabinet, that the position of Government Botanist be 

 abolished, and thus the salary of its occupant would be saved. 

 He said that to take such a step on the score of economy was 

 absurd, and that, in his opinion. Professor Ewart was being 

 }ienalized for not seeing eye to eye with the Minister for Agri- 

 culture on all points. He moved — " That the Field Xaturahsts' 

 Club of Victoria regrets to hear of the rumoured retirement of 

 Professor Ewart from the {position of Government Botanist, 

 and, trusting that the rumour is founded on a misunderstanding, 

 hopes that the present high status of the ofhce will be preserved, 

 and that Professor Ewart may be enabled to continue his 

 work of guidance and instruction in the Department of Agri- 

 culture, to the benefit of the various botanical interests of the 

 community, and that the hon. secretary forward copies of 

 this resolution to the Acting Premier and the Minister for 

 Agriculture." 



Mr. J. Shephard, in seconciing the resolution, said that the 

 Chib was well within its rights in commenting on a matter that 

 concerned it so much, and in taking any step which might be 

 necessary to try and prevent any set-back to natural science, 

 such as would result from the retirement of an officer with the 

 qualifications Professor Ewart undoubtedly had. 



The motion was carried unanimously. 



Mr. J. Shephard referred to the services of Mr. J. Searle 



