78 Barnard. The F.N.C. of Victoria : a Retrospect, [vol'xxxvii. 



wliat was intended by its promoters is perhaps a matter of 

 opinion. In my opinion it has. I have no hesitation in saying 

 that the Chib has been instrumental in making tlie fauna and 

 flora of Victoria more intimately known than they would have 

 been had it not existed. It has enabled persons of kindred 

 tastes to meet together and become acquainted with one another, 

 while the Xattirnlist has afforded means for recording a large 

 amount of valuable information for tlie benefit of future 

 workers and lovers of nature. In no publication will be found 

 so mucli descriptive matter about the State of Victoria. 

 Almost every one of its 8,452 pages contains something of 

 interest, and' members often tell me they take down a volume 

 from their bookshelves and find articles that remind them of 

 pleasant evenings spent at this hall or of outings in the country. 



The result of the forty years may be reduced to figures in the 

 following manner : — Papers read, 917 ; volumes of the Natiirali.st 

 published, 36, containing 8,452 pages, at a cost of £3,i()5. 



A summary of the balance-sheets shows : — 



Receipts. 



;^2,99f' •• ■ £2.-^93_ £S-$^3 



( ri'dit balance. £<^)2 (includinf^ War Bond, ;^2o). 



Tluit tlie Club has been fortunate in its office-bearers is 

 generally conceded, and the record of service may be of some 

 interest. In all, 82 persons have held office during the forty 

 years, the following reaching ten years or morb : — F. G. A. 

 Barnard, j^j ; G. Coghill, 29; J. (iabricl. 25; J. A. Kershaw, 

 22 ; C. French, 18 ; D. Best, ib ; F. Wisewould, ib ; A. I). Hardv, 

 15 ; T. S. Hall, 14 ; G. A. Keartland. 14 : C. S. Sutton, 14 ; O. A. 

 Sayce, i.l ; IX Le Souef, 12 ; J. Shephard, 10 ; and H. T. Tisdall, 

 10. 



l-'inaliy, may I call attention to tlie lin(; sum raised for war 

 charities by the last five exhil)itions of wild-fiowers — viz., 

 ;^622 8s. od.^— which shows that tlu; efforts of the Clui) in bringing 

 under the notice of the general public the interesting nature 

 of our .\ustralian flora have been dulv appreciated. 



