18 the victorian naturalist. 



librarian's report. 

 The hon. librarian reported the following donations to the 

 library : — " Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South 

 Wales," 2nd series, vii., 4 (from Society) ; " Journal of Pharmacy," 

 April, 1893 (from Society). 



ELECTION OF MEMBER. 



On a ballot being taken. Dr. Moore, of Dandenong, was elected 

 a member of the Club. 



DEATH OF AN EMINENT BOTANIST. 



Baron von Mueller, one of the patrons of the Club, read a 

 letter received a few weeks ago from Alph. de Candolle, son of 

 the celebrated botanist, Aug. Pyramus de Candolle. The letter 

 had a mournful interest, since it proved to be the last one of a 

 correspondence with Baron von Mueller extending over 40 years, 

 news being received by the last mail of the death of Alph. de 

 Candolle at the age of nearly go years. During almost the whole 

 of his career he devoted himself to scientific work, botanical 

 studies having the greatest weight with him. He was a unique 

 authority on the nomenclature of plants. One of his works alone 

 includes 30 volumes, and his monograph on the origin of cul- 

 tivated plants takes rank with the best botanical treatises. At 

 the close of a touching address, in which Baron von Mueller 

 bore testimony to the loss which the scientific world had sustained 

 by the death, a vote of condolence with the surviving son, Casimir 

 de Candolle, was passed by the Club, the members standing in 

 silence whilst it was being passed, out of respect to the memory 

 of the eminent botanist. 



PERMANENT RESERVATION OF THE DANDENONG STATE FOREST. 



Mr. J. B. Gregory, LL.M., then referred to the action of the 

 Minister of Lands in throwing open for selection the central 

 portion of the Dandenong State Forest, and moved — " That a 

 committee be appointed to take steps as may seem necessary to 

 induce the Government to refrain from revoking the reservation 

 of the Forest." This was seconded by Mr. F. G. A. Barnard, 

 Messrs. G. Coghill, J. Shephard, and the Secretary also speaking 

 strongly in favour of it, whilst Messrs. E. Anderson, C. French, and 

 H. R. Hogg deprecated any action being taken likely to hamper 

 the hands of the Government in dealing with the settlement of 

 people on the land. The proposition was then put to the 

 meeting and a show of hands resulted in equal counting. The 

 chairman, however, gave his vote against the motion, which was 

 declared lost. Mr. Gregory, on the ground that some non- 

 members had voted, claimed a division, which ended in the 

 reversal of the previous result by a fair majority, and the pro- 

 position was, therefore, declared carried. In accordance with 

 it, Messrs, F. G. A. Barnard, J. B. Gregory, and Rev. W. Fielder 



