xxxvi Minutes of Meetings. 



sleepers would wear out the iron rails, and referred to local illus- 

 trations to prove that the period of duration for wood as given by 

 the essayist was much too short. 



Mr. Holmes considered that the woods of the colony had not yet 

 been fairly tried. 



Captain Clarke stated that Barlow's rails had been tried under the 

 best circumstances on the Sydney and Parramatta Railway. The 

 rails had proved a failure there, having began in a short time to 

 buckle, even when three sleepers for each one recommended were 

 used. Captain Clarke further thought that the best gradients had 

 already been adopted for the proposed inland lines. He advocated 

 single lines to begin with, and hoped that the general conclusions 

 given in the paper read would not be accepted without proper 

 investigation. 



In answer to a question from Professor Wilson, Dr. Mueller 

 stated that he believed that resinous sap preserved woods best, and 

 added that one species of Eucalyptus, called the Mahogany Eucalyp- 

 tus, peculiar to Western Australia, resisted the action of the white 

 ant. 



Messrs. Zeal, R. Brough Smyth, A. K. Smith and others, also 

 took part in the discussion, after which a vote of thanks was given 

 to the Essayist. 



From the lateness of the hour, Mr. Edward Wilson's paper, on 

 "the introduction of the British Song Bird," was postponed, and 

 ordered to take precedence at the next Monthly Meeting of the 

 Institute. 



1st July, 1857. 



Monthly Meeting. 



The Hon. Captain Clarke, R.E., President, in the chair. 



The Minutes of the previous Monthly Meeting were read and 

 confirmed, and recently-elected members were introduced by the 

 President. 



The following gentlemen were elected ordinary members of the 

 Institute by ballot : — 



The Hon. James Cowie, Esq., M.L.C., Geelong. 



Wm. Bennet Hull, Esq., C.E., Government Railway Department, 

 Taradale. 



Alexander Fisher, Esq., Surgeon, 83, Stephen-street. 



Robert Lawson, Esq., 2, Royal Terrace. 



Rev. Donald M'Donald, A.M., Emerald Hill. 



Henry Moors, Esq., St. Kilda. 



George Allan, Jun., Esq., Melbourne. 



George Mackay, Esq,, L.L.D., Melbourne. 



Lieut. Henry Amsinck, R.N., Melbourne. 



