XV 



OCTOBEH, 1898. 



A meeting of the Royal Society "svas 

 held in the Art Gallery at the Museum 

 on Monday, October 18, 1898. Mr. R. 

 M. Johnston presided, and there was a 

 moderate attendance. Messrs, R. J. Rogers 

 and G. E. Bernard were elected members 

 of the Society. 



The Chairman announced that it had 

 been thought desirable for steps to be 

 taken to receive the members of the 

 Antarctic expedition which would soon call 

 at Hobart on the way to its field of explora- 

 tion. In accordance ^\'ith that feeling 

 arrangements were l^eing made to welcome 

 the explorers. 



A report was presented by a sub-com- 

 mittee that had been appointed to consider 

 the question of establishing a geographical 

 and historical section in connection with 

 the Society. A number of rules had been 

 agreed upon, which would be presented at 

 a future meeting. 



BOTANICAL NOTES. 



Mr. L. RoDAVAY read a paper relating to 

 botany. He said that such papers, as a 

 rule, were more satisfactory when taken as 

 read. Botany in Tasmania was not fol- 

 lowed by sucli a large number of workers 

 as enabled it to be thrashed out as well as it 

 had been treated in older countries. 

 Students of botany experienced a great 

 deal of difficulty in their studies owing to 

 the complicated character of the gums of 

 Tasmania. He did not think that any 

 person in Tasmania knew the whole of the 

 varieties of gum trees in the colony, and 

 Avas certain that no one in the world was 

 familiar with all the gums of Australia. 

 A description was then given of the 

 different kinds of eucalyptus trees which 

 grow throughout Tasmania. 



THE MUTTON BIRD INDUSTRY. 



The Bishop of Tasmania, the Right Rev. 

 H. H. Montgomery, D.D., read a paper 

 dealing with the protection of the nuitton 

 bird industry. He said that each succeeding 

 year made it more necessary that the 

 question of protecting the birds should 



be faced, if it was desired that the 

 mutton bird industry should be preserved. 

 Six or seven years ago the industry was 

 not regulated at all. The Government of 

 that time acted wisely, and certain islands 

 were now preserved as rookeries. Mutton 

 liirds paid better than cattle, and required 

 but little attention. The question now arose, 

 Avas there need for further regulation ? All 

 agreed in saying that the inhabitants of 

 the islands were increasing, and one, if not 

 more, of the rookeries was becoming over- 

 crowded. Had not the time come, then, 

 to preserve Chapel Island ? If that 

 fact were established details could be 

 arranged by the Government, and if action 

 was taken at once fewer difficulties would 

 be met than if delayed. During the pre- 

 sent year the birds had been pp-rticularly 

 abundant, and not so much harm had 

 taken place. Something must be done in 

 the interests of the industry, and persons 

 forced to go to Babel Island. At present 

 the sj'stem of working one island out and 

 neglecting another was absurd. Chapel 

 Island was conveniently situated, and 

 everyone Avished his neighbour to go to 

 the more distant rookeries. Would it 

 not be Avise to require a license to 

 be taken out for birding on Chapel 

 Island ? This Avould atibrd a measure 

 of protection. He longed for the day 

 Avhen egging Avould be stopped and 

 steps taken to spread the industry. 

 The demand for mutton birds Avas 

 increasing, and he made no apology for 

 referring to the necessity of something 

 being done to foster the industry. The 

 matter Avas one that required careful con- 

 sideration. 



A general discussion took place on the 

 papers read, and a vote of thanks accorded 

 those Avho had compiled them. 



AVIRELESS TELEGRAPHY. 



A paper on " Wireless Telegraphy " Avas 

 to have Ijeen read by Mr. Self, but Avas un- 

 avoidably held over. 



This concluded the business of the 

 meeting. 



