xl 



given. The lecturer, in concluding, con- 

 sidered that the North Lyell Kailway would 

 control nearly all the traffic of the Lyell field 

 outside of the Mount Lyell Co. and Queens- 

 town, and would also get the whole of the 

 Jukes and Darwin country traffic, with that to 

 the eastward, which has practically been un- 

 explored, and when the comi^any's smelters 

 are erected at Thureau Hills (where a town 

 rivalling Queenstown in size and importance 

 would probably spring up) the traffic would be 

 enormous. Both railways were considered 

 most valuable from a tourist standpoint, the 

 lecturer contending that they would open to 

 the public our best type of West Coast scenery, 

 hitherto closed except to the few, and that in 



the near future they would become recognised 

 tourist routes of great popularity. 



Mr. Beattie, at the close, was accorded 

 hearty and prolonged applause. 



EXHIBITS. 



Mr. T. Stephens exhibited a specimen 

 from a very large block of pumice washed, 

 up in Sydney harbour recently ; and pre- 

 sented for distribution a parcel of walnuts 

 from a species (Hickoria pecan) indigenous 

 to the Central and Southern States of North 

 America. The fruit is greatly prized in 

 the United States, and the annual export 

 of pecans from Texas alone is valued at 

 not less than £10,000. 



