^1*^20 1 Barnard, The F.N.C. of Victoria : a Retrospect. "j-j 



1918-19. — ^The presidential chair was occupied by Mr. 

 A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., with Mr. E. S. Anthony as hon. secretary. 

 The annual report recorded 233 members — a slight increase, 

 with a slight decrease in credit balance. At the annual 

 meeting an exhibition of specimens was held, and His Excellency 

 the Governor-Creneral, Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, G.C.M.G., 

 attended and unveiled the Honour Roll, and a presentation 

 of a pocket aneroid was made to Mr. F. G. A. Barnard in 

 recognition of his twenty-five years' service as hon. editor. 

 The third extensive exhibition of wild-flowers at the Town 

 Hall yielded £141 2s. qd. for the Y.M.C.A. War Fund. A week 

 was spent at Marys ville at Christmas, when an enjoyable outing 

 resulted (F. N ., xxxv., 157). Mr. G. CoghiU retired from the 

 treasurership at the end of the year, after fifteen years of 

 office, and was subsequently presented with a memento of his 

 services. 



1919-20. — Mr. A. D. Hardy, F.L.S., again occupied the 

 presidential chair, and Mr. P. C. Morrison was elected as hon. 

 secretary ; however, after a few months' service he was com- 

 pelled to resign owing to ill-health, and later Mr. E. E. Pescott, 

 F.L.S., offered to carry out the duties until the annual meeting. 

 The annual report showed a total of 246 members and an 

 increased credit balance of £72, and in addition a war bond 

 of ^20. Early in the year the Club lost, by death, its first 

 life member, Mr. B. R. Patey, at the ripe age of gi years. 

 Through the representations of the Club, Edwards Park, a 

 recently-acquired reserve at Preston, was proclaimed a bird 

 sanctuary. The Fisheries and Game Department was 

 approached with regard to the increase of foxes at Phillip 

 Island. An excursion to Bendigo in September (F. A/"., xxxvi., 

 100) proved of great interest. The exhibition of wild-flowers 

 was again a great success, £167 3s. 5d. being divided between ' 

 tlie An/.ac House Fund and a fund for pubhshing the vernacular 

 plant names list. The retirement of Professor Sir Baldwin 

 Spencer, K.C.M.G., from the Chair of Biology at the University 

 and his services to the Club were referred to at the November 

 meeting (F. A^., xxxvi., no). With the closing of the war 

 I'xcursions again became a feature of the Club proceedings, 

 tlie most notable one being to Loch Valley (F. 'N ., xxxvi., 153). 

 At the February meeting several members gave short notes 

 of their holiday rambles (F. A^., xxxvi., 150). At Easter three 

 days were spent at Rosebud and Arthur's Seat (l)romana) 

 (F. N., xxxvii., 23). For the first time in its history the 

 Xatiiralists for March and April were nnich behind tlu-ir due 

 dates, owing to the printers' strike. 



Now my chronicling is done, and I trust whoever takes up 

 the task for the next ten years will have as interesting a record 

 to make as I have had. Whether the Club has accompHshed 



