THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 61 



was not so large as on some former occasions, owing 

 probably to the unfavourable season. An interesting collection 

 of pot plants and native flowers, grown in the Botanical Gardens, 

 was kindly sent by the Director. The Club was honoured bv a 

 request from Her Excellency Ladv Northcote for a private view 

 of the exhibits, which was readily granted, and her ladyship 

 expressed great delight in the wild flowers exhibited. On 

 Thursdav and Friday evenings illustrated lecturettes were 

 delivered by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., entitled " The Geology and 

 Scenery of the Eastern Suburbs," and by Mr. A. E. Kitson, 

 F.G.S., entitled "The Upper Waters of the Yarra Yarra." Both 

 were highly interesting, and were illustrated by lantern views, 

 kindly displayed by the Club's hon. lanternist, Mr. J. Searle. 

 Financially the conversazione proved a success, a small surplus 

 of ;^3 being handed to the hon. treasurer. The programme 

 issued was a distinct advance on those of previous years, and 

 was designed to aff"ord non-members an idea of the aims and 

 objects of the Club. 



" The Club is again indebted to Messrs. T. R. B. Morton and 

 Coghill, who have placed their offices as a meeting place at the 

 disposal of the committee for many years, free of cost, which 

 represents a considerable saving in rent to the Club, while to Mr. 

 J. Searle the thanks of the Club are again due for the use and 

 management of his lantern on several occasions. 



" It is a matter of mutual congratulation that the Club is 

 financially in a very sound state, and in the possession of the 

 large credit balance of ;^io5 17s. gd., with all accounts paid. 

 The receipts from all sources, including sale of tickets at 

 conversazione, were ;!^2i4 iis. 7d., while the expenditure 

 amounted to ^^^gS 4s. 2d., showing a gain for the year of ^16 

 7s. 5d. The expenditure has been the heaviest for many years 

 past ; however, the greater portion of the money received was 

 spent in improving the Victorian Naturalist. 



" It having been reported that the Government intended 

 to remove the valuable collection contained in the National 

 Herbarium to the University, some of the members were appre- 

 hensive that should this take place there was great risk of injury 

 to the specimens, many of which cannot be replaced. In order 

 to ascertain the correctness of the rumour, a letter was forwarded 

 to the Hon. the Minister of Agriculture, who replied that there 

 was no foundation for the statement. 



'* A letter was forwarded to the Hon. the Minister of Public 

 Works requesting that the Waranga Reservoir be proclaimed a 

 permanent asylum for native game and water-fowl. We are 

 pleased to report that this has been done, and the necessary 

 proclamation made. 



"The hon. librarian reports that the additions to the library 

 by exchanges have been rather larger than those of last year. The 



