Proceedings, fyc. xxi 



the Institute, Messrs. Jones and Gardiner acting as scrutineers of 

 the ballot : — 



The Rev. John Turner, Collingwood. 



J. Warburton Carr, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate and Warden, 

 Anderson's Creek. 



John Walter Osborne, Esq., Analytical Chemist, Melbourne. 



E. Drury, Esq., Bank of Australasia. 



P. F. Jones, Esq., " Argus" Reporter, Williamstown. 

 The Secretary laid upon the table the following contributions : — 

 " Meteorological Observations," made at Adelaide for the year 185S 

 (two copies); also, Report upon a letter from Mr. F. Gisborne respecting 

 the establishment of a line of telegraph from East Java to Sydney — 

 — presented by the author, Charles Todd, Esq. Vol. XV., Part 2, of 

 " The Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society of London" — by 

 the Society. Ten copies of the " Exploration Chart of Australia" 

 — by C. W. Ligar, Esq., Surveyor-General. 



The thanks of the Institute were voted to the contributors. 

 The Secretary read the following communication from His Excel- 

 lency S. Eyre, Esq., Governor of St. Vincent, and one of the explorers 

 of Australia, addressed to the President of the Institute. : — 



" Government House, 10th February, 1859. 

 " Dear Sir— 



" In replying to your letter on the subject of St. Vincent seeds, I 

 am obliged to state there are some difficulties, but I will do the best 

 I can. The fact is, West Indians are for the most part utilitarians, 

 and care little for anything except sugar. I do not know an indi- 

 vidual in this island either skilled or interested in botany — there is 

 not even a commonly good gardener, so far as I am aware ; and when 

 recently invited by Dr. Hooker to contribute to a new West Indian 

 Flora, which is about to be published under the aid of the British 

 Government, we literally were without means of doing so. 



" Some time ago I wrote to invite poor Mr. Elsie, surgeon of the 

 North Australian Expedition, to come and stay with me, hoping 

 that he might assist us a little ; but, poor fellow, he got 

 no further than St. Kitts, where he died, whilst on a visit to Mr. 

 Robinson. There are, I have no doubt, many interesting and 

 curious plants in this colony, for it possesses an admirable climate 

 for the tropics, with very frequent rains. It is entirely volcanic in 

 its formation, but possesses high ranges, deep valleys, dense forests, 

 open plains, numerous streams, and in fact everything to lead you to 

 expect a rich and varied vegetation. There are, however, many im- 

 pediments to making researches or collections. The vines and 

 undergrowth amongst the forests are so matted and tangled, that it 

 is difficult to quit a beaten road or pathway citt through it, whilst 

 the extreme heat and the frequent showers render much exposure 

 not very safe for Europeans, besides the ordinary relaxing and 



