XSXIV EVENING MEETINGS. 



The Prf.sidknt briefly introduced Mr. Mannering, who, he under- 

 stood, had succeeded in reaching the highest point which had been 

 reached by any person in New Zealand. He stated that His Excellency 

 the Governor had just come from the alpine district, and they would 

 rjo doubt be pleased if he made a few remarks before the address was 

 given. 



His Excellency the Governor said that when one had come from 

 places he had recently visited he was supposed to know more about 

 them than did other people. What he would like to say, as having 

 been in the vicinity of Mount Cook, was that excursions could be made 

 there without any great amount of difficulty. The Government had made 

 a track up the Tasman Glacier, and were now building a hut, and from 

 what he could see when he was there he believed any one who visited it 

 in this season or next would have the opportunity of making a most 

 successful excursion up to the dividing-point of the range, from which 

 they would be able to see over to the West Coast ; and he believed it was 

 the intention of the Government to make a path up the Hooker Glacier, 

 to the site of the ice-falls and other interesting features of glacier- 

 formation. His desire in making these remarks was that people should 

 understand that there was no real difficulty in ascending to a certain 

 point in these mountains ; that no alarm should be created by the 

 illustrations of IMessrs. Mannering and Dixon ; and that in time the 

 glaciers we possessed would not be the property only of alpine moun- 

 taineers, but of the general public. 



Mr. Mannering then gave his address. (See page 591.) 



Mr. J. H. Baker, Commissioner of Crown Lands, moved a hearty 

 vote of thanks to Mr. Mannering. 



Baron von Mueller seconded the motion, and, in doing so, conveyed 

 to Mr. Mannering the thanks of the Association for enlightening them on 

 the matter of alpine explorations in New Zealand. He felt certain that 

 the excursion arranged by the Association to the Alps would be a most 

 interesting one, and that the visitors would bring back with them recol- 

 lections which would never be obliterated. The mountaineer had shown 

 a specimen of that chivalry and courage which had made the British 

 nation so great, and he felt sure they would all agree with him when he 

 said that an enterprise like that to an account of which they had listened 

 should be generously supported. 



The President put the motion, which was unanimously adopted, as 

 one of thanks to Messrs. Mannering and Dixon for the information given, 

 and to Messrs. Wheeler and Seager for the splendid lime-light views. 



hlbnday , 19th January, 1891. 



A lecture on "Oysters and Oyster-culture in Australasia," by Mr. 

 W. Saville-Kent, P.L.S., F.Z.S., was read in the Provincial Council 

 Chamber. 



The President, after expressing regret for the unavoidable absence 

 of Mr. Saville-Kent and the photographs and diagrams illustrating his 

 subject, called upon Professor Parker to read the paper. (See page 551.) 



Professor Thomas proposed a vote of thanks to the author of the 

 paper, Mr. Saville-Kent, and to the reader. Professor Parker. Speaking 

 on the depletion of the Auckland oyster-beds, he said that even since the 

 Act forbidding the exportation of rock-oysters was passed many cases of 

 the bivalves were sent away under the name of mud-oysters. 



Mr. P. R. Chapman seconded the vote of thanks, and spoke on the 

 necessity of protecting our oyster-beds ; and said that he was glad to hear 

 Mr. Saville-Kent's paper, as it was the beginnmg of a feeling of real 

 interest in our marine resources. Ho suggested the advisability of 

 biologists like Mr. Saville-Kent being secured for New Zealand, and 



