BIOLOGICAL STATION. 381 
THE PROPOSED BIOLOGICAL STATION AND 
- MARINE FISH HATCHERY NEAR DUNEDIN, 
NEW ZEALAND. 
By Geo. M. Tuomsoy, F.L.S. 
In the paper on the above subject, read before the meeting 
of the Association in Melbourne, in January, 1900, I nar- 
rated the steps which had been taken to bring about the 
construction of the proposed station, and again expressed 
the hope that it would soon be an accomplished fact. This 
hope has not been realised, not on account of any lack of 
effort on the part of those interested, but solely from the 
difficulty of moving the Government to take definite action. 
There has been no opposition, but the pressure which the 
promoters have hitherto been able to bring to bear has not 
proved sufficient to overcome the vis imertia encountered. 
The Government are, however, in favour of carrying out the 
scheme, and it rests with those interested to put forth 
greater effort to secure this result. 
During the early part of 1900, as the outcome of a closer 
examination of the proposed site at Purakanui by Professor 
Benham and Mr. Ayson, Inspector of Fisheries, it was con- 
sidered that the risks of contamination of the tanks and 
ponds by fresh water were too great, and it was resolved 
to look out for a more suitable locality. Such a spot was 
found on Quarry Point, Portobello, immediately opposite 
Quarantine Island, in the lower harbour, and nearly opposite 
Port Chalmers. Careful examinations and surveys of the 
ground were made, analyses of the water were secured, with 
satisfactory results, and negotiations for obtaining the requi- 
site land have been carried out. It only remains now to 
sign the lease. Meanwhile, a plan of the required buildings 
and tanks was submitted to the Marine Department, and 
Mr. Ussher, head of the Public Works Department in 
Dunedin, was instructed to report on it. This he has done 
recently, but his estimate of cost, amounting to some £3000, 
is so far in excess of the sum available that the scheme has 
temporarily come to a stop. The members of the local com- 
mittee which has hitherto pushed the matter forward are 
of opinion that the estimate is an excessive one, and that 
the work of construction could be accomplished at a much 
lower cost. They also consider that the Government might 
utilise prison labour for the necessary cutting down and 
fillmg in of the ground which is required. 
