150 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXIV 



part I, from the Academy ; " Annual Report of the American 

 Museum of Natural History for 1906," from the Museum; 

 " Revista do Museo Paulista," vols, ii.-v., 1897-1902, from the 

 Museum; Knowledge, vol. iv., Nos. 10 and 11, October and 

 November, 1907, from the proprietors ; and Nature Notes, 

 October and November, 1907, from the Selborne Society, 

 London. 



ELECTIONS. 



On a ballot being taken, Mr. D. J. Mahony, M.Sc, Depart- 

 ment of Mines, Melbourne, was elected an ordinary member, and 

 Captain \V. C. Thomson, Bank-street, Ascot, Brisbane, and Rev. 

 Henry Wallace, Frankston, as country members of the Club. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



The president reported that a deputation, consisting of the 

 representatives appointed by the various Victorian scientific 

 societies and institutions, had interviewed the hon. the Minister 

 of Lands, Mr. Mackey, on the i8th ult., regarding the permanent 

 reservation of the National Park at Wilson's Promontory. The 

 request of the deputation was explained by Professor Baldwin 

 Spencer, who pointed out that it was desired that the whole of 

 the Promontory be reserved permanently, that a ranger be 

 appointed by the Government, and the park vested permanently 

 in trustees. 



Mr. Mackay, in reply, said he was thoroughly in sympathy with 

 the wishes of the deputation. He was willing to vest the 

 Promontory in trustees, but was sure the Cabinet would not at 

 present agree to include the half-mile margin in the permanent 

 reservation. He could, however, give the trustees control over 

 it, and they need not permit any settlement unless the Cabinet 

 decided otherwise for urgent public reasons. The revenue from 

 the existing grazing leases amounted to ;^i02 per annum, and 

 this would be handed over to the trustees to be expended in the 

 management of the park. He said he would also make the 

 ranger an officer of the trustees. The Minister explained that, 

 although reserved permanently, the land was still subject to the 

 mining laws, and he could not give control over the timber, 

 which was under the Forestry Department. He would, however, 

 endeavour to make arrangements with that Department to limit 

 any interference with the timber. 



At the conclusion of the business a short conference was held 

 in the Minister's room, kindly placed at the disposal of the 

 delegates by Mr. Mackay, when it was decided to hold another 

 meeting at a later date to consider the appointment of trustees 

 and other matters. 



Mr. Keartland said the matter ought to be pressed on as soon 

 as possible, and a meeting held to appoint trustees. 



