XX PKOCEEDINGS, AUGUST. 



OLD CHARTS OF TASMANIA. 



Mr. Mault read a paper dealing with certain old charts captured 

 from Captain Hayes by the French, and now lodged among the archives 

 of France, but copied by the permission of the Government of that 

 ctuntry. The paper dealt at length with each of the charts, and 

 illustrated the origin of many of the original names of the Derwent and 

 its surroundings, 



Mr. McClymont complimented Mr. Mault on the care bestowed on his 

 paper, and reviewed the earlier part of the voyage of the Marion. 



Mr. Walker also spoke on the paper, quoting from the Brabourne 

 Papers to illustrate the possibility that Flinders at the time of his 

 detention at the Mauritius was carrying despatches from Governor 

 King, which were regarded by his captors as a violation of the passport 

 held by him from Bounaparte. 



DISCOVERY OF A FOSSIL FISH. 



Mr. R. M. JoHNSXON read a paper, the joint production of Mr. 

 Morton and himself, respecting the recent discovery by Mr. H. Nicholls 

 of a fossil fish, presented by him to the Museum, The specieshad been 

 named Acrolepis Hamiltoni, in recognition of the deep interest always 

 observed by the President in the affairs of the Society. 



The SECRETARY read a communication from Mr. Petterd, referring 

 to a fossil fish discovered by him in a quarry near Knocklofty 18 years 

 back, but which had not been described, but had been lost, 



Mr, Stephens referred to certain correspondence received by him 

 from Professors Stephens and McCoy asking for patticulars of this 

 discovery. 



AUSTRALIAN AND TASMANIAN SANDARACH, 



The Secretary read a paper by Mr. J. H. Maiden, F.L.S., F.G.S., 

 Curator, Technological Museum, Sydney. In it the writer referred 

 to the fact that a specimen of resin irom the Oyster Bay Pine of 

 Tasmania, sent to the Exhibition of 1851, first drew the attention of 

 experts to the possibilities of Australian Sandarach, For this exhibit 

 and other gums and resins, Mr. J. Milligan was awarded honourable 

 mention, Sandarach is one of the most valuable of Australian and 

 Tasmanian vegetable products, a market is ready for it, and it seems 

 strange that it should have been so long neglected. No statistics are 

 available in regard to the importation of Sandarach into these colonies, 

 but to bring it here at all is a veritable "carrying of coals to Newcastle." 

 In various parts of Australia and Tasmania there are vast numbers of 

 CaUitris trees, and their resin, often abundant, can readily be collected, 

 and the author is sure that even with the cheap labour of Northern 

 Africa to contend against, it can be profitably gathered during a 

 portion of the year. The approximate price of Sandarach in London, 

 is 60-115S. per cwt., and there is no difference between it and the 

 colonial article. As to the cultivation of the trees. Baron von Mueller 

 states, " Probably it would be more profitable to devote sandy 

 desert land, which could not be brought under irrigation, to the 

 culture of the Sandarach cypresses, than to pastoral purposes, but 

 boring beetles must be kept off. It is also to be borne in mind that 

 CaUitris timber is valuable," 



Mr. Stephens referred to the manner in which these trees were 

 destroyed in clearing for sheep farming. 



The President said he had frequently noticed the destruction of 

 these trees. 



COMPLIMENTARY. 



The President moved the usual vote of thanks to the contribukors 

 of papers. 



