6 



MAT, 1878. 



The monthly evening meeting of the Society was held on Taesday 

 May 14. His Excellency the Governor occupied the chair, and, not- 

 withstanding the inclemency of the weather, there was a fair attendance 

 of the Fellows. 



The Hon. Secretary, Dr. Agnew, brought forward the usual monthly 

 returns, viz. : — 



1. Number of visitors to Museum during April — total, 3172. 



2. Ditto to Garden during April— total, 4395. 



3. Plants and seeds received at Botanic Gardens: — From the Royal 



Gardens, Kew, 100 varieties willow, most of which are alive. 

 From Mr. James Dall, Nelson, New Zealand, 7 species of New 

 Zealand, tree ferns. From Mons. Jules Cock, Ghent, Belgium, 

 43 species seeds, principally coniferse. From J. Lidbetter, Esq., 

 Bombay, eight species Indian coniferse. From Mr. "Wm. Bull, 

 London, 55 varieties, lily and iris bulbs. From Mr. C. F. Creswell, 

 Melbourne, one box imported herbaceous plants, about one half of 

 which are alive. From Captain W. Willett, 63 packets, imported 

 seeds. From the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, nine packets seeds 

 of coniferse. 



4. Time of leafing, etc., of a few standard plants in the Botanic Gardens 



during the month. 



5. Books and periodicals received. 



6. Presentions to Museum. 



7. Meteorological Tables. 



a. Hobart Town, from F. Abbott, Esq.— Table fcr April. 



b. Mount Nelson, from the Marine Board. — Table for April. 



c. Melbourne, fromR. J. L. EUery, Esq. — Printed tables for November, 



1877. 

 The presentations to the Museum were as follows : 



1. From Mr. Thos. Dale, New Norfolk. — A water- worn rock specimen 



from the drift gravel, near New Norfolk. 



2. From Mr. W. F. Davidson, Bagdad. — A Half-penny of George I., 



1722. 



8. From Mr. G. H. Latham. — Three stone Axes, from New Zealand. 

 A specimen of marble, cut and polished, was placed on the table for 



inspection. In calling attention to this specimen, Mr. Stephens remarked 

 that though the term *' marble" was sometimes restricted to altered or 

 metamorphic rocks, it also included all limestones used for ornamental 

 purposes, the black and grey limestones from the carboniferous rocks of 

 England and Ireland being extensively utilised. The specimen before the 

 meeting was from the so-called " Devonian" limestones of Maria Island, 

 and would bear comparison with many marbles of the same class which 

 have attained high favour. It had been furnished by Mr. Robert 

 Robinson, of Spring Bay, whose name was familiar to many Fellows 

 of the Society, and it was to be hoped that he would be successful in this 

 attempt to establish a new and permanent industry in Tasmania. 



The Secretary read a paper entitled " A few remarks on the distribu- 

 tion and growth of Queensland plants," contributed by F. M. Bailey, Esq., 

 of Brisbane, a Corresponding Member of the Society. 



His Lordship the Bishop of Tasmania read an important paper on 

 " Water supply in relation to disease." 



Discussion ensued, in which His Excellency, the Bishop, Messrs. 

 Stephens, Grant, Shoobridge, Swan, and others, took part. 



Dr. Hall said he regretted that his infirmity of hearing had pre- 



