l82 Field Naturalists' Club — Proceedings. [v^l'xxix. 



ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 



On a ballot being taken, Mrs. Soloman, Weston-street, 

 Brunswick, was duly elected an ordinary member of the Club. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. 



Mr. F. G. A. Barnard drew attention to the recent destructive 

 fires which had devastated a large area in the National Park, 

 Wilson's Promontory. He thought that, while cattle were 

 allowed to graze on the Promontory, these conflagrations would 

 be periodical. He suggested that the Club should take some 

 action in the matter, and accordingly moved — " That a strong 

 protest be made to the Committee of Management against the 

 further use of the National Park at Wilson's Promontory as a 

 grazing area, on account of the danger of the destruction of 

 the native flora." 



Mr. G. Coghill, in seconding the motion, said that it was 

 impossible to preserve the native flora while the Park was 

 being leased for grazing purposes. Cattle want grass, and the 

 fires had to happen. 



Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., in supporting the motion, said that 

 it must not be overlooked that the Committee of Management 

 had already received a protest from the Club against a renewal 

 of the grazing leases. 



Professor Ewart pointed out that when the Committee took 

 over the Park they were without funds, and it was necessary to 

 allow grazing to continue in order to provide revenue. They 

 would now have to consider whether it would not be better to 

 sacrifice this revenue. 



Mr. F. Pitcher asked that members be informed as to the 

 extent of the fire. 



Mr. J. A. Kershaw, F.E.S., stated that the fire extended along 

 the whole northern end of the Promontory, down the eastern 

 side as far as Sealers' Cove, and back into the ranges on that 

 side. A large area of scrub land had been burnt, but, fortu- 

 nately, the fire did not get into the big timber. It was difficult 

 to form an estimate of the area destroyed, which would probably 

 be about 20,000 acres. 



Mr. A. D. Hardy drew attention to the lack of uniformity in 

 the name applied to Corner Basin, Wilson's Promontory, which 

 was still frequently referred to as "Corner Inlet." The latter 

 name, he said, was now applied to the entrance of the Basin. 



Dr. Hall stated that, although not the correct term geologically 

 speaking. Corner Basin was still known locally as "The Inlet." 



PAPERS READ, 



I. By Mr. H. W. Davey, F.E.S., entitled "Notes on the 

 Breeding of English Newts in Victoria." 



