xl Minutes of Meetings. 



Frederick A. Stratford Esq., Sub-manager of the E. S. and A. C. 

 Bank, Williamstown. 



Count John Dembinski, Melbourne. 



William Wright, Esq., Railway Contractor, Melbourne. 



Lieut. C. A. D. Pasco, R.N., Resident Magistrate, Williamstown. 



Alexander Fyfe, Esq., M.L.A., Geelong. 



Alexander Morrison, Esq., M.A., Principal of the Scotch College, 

 Melbourne. 



Robert Campbell, Esq., Merchant, 172 Collins Street, East. 



William Hamilton, Esq., Teacher, John Knox's School, Melbourne. 



Lieut. William Dowman, H. M. 40th Regiment. 



Charles Broad, Esq., Senior Assistant Immigration Officer, 

 Williamstown. 



W. F. Preshaw, Esq., Surgeon and Coroner, Castlemaine. 



— Migeod, Esq., Physician, Bourke Street, East. 



The honorary secretary laid upon the table two contributions, viz., 

 Abstract of Meteorological Observations, taken in Victoria, during 

 the quarter ending 30th June, 1857, by the Government, and a Copy 

 of the first newspaper printed in Port Phillip (the Melbourne Advertiser) 

 by R W. Wrede, Esq. 



A paper was read by W. A. Zeal, Esq - , C.E., on " Railway Gra- 

 dients." This paper was illustrated by diagrams, and the thanks 

 of the Institute were awarded to Mr. Zeal for his interesting com- 

 munication. 



William Blandowski, Esq., then read a paper, containing an ac- 

 count of his " Recent Discoveries in Natural History on the Lower 

 Murray." The paper was accompanied with several elaborate port- 

 folios of sketches of objects of natural history, taken by the author 

 during his sojourn in the district named. A specimen of the Austra- 

 lian Boa Constrictor was exhibited. 



An animated discussion followed the reading of the paper. 



Thanks were voted to Mr. Blandowski for his communication. 



From the lateness of the hour, Dr. Mueller, with the consent of 

 the members, postponed the reading of his paper on " A general in- 

 troduction of useful Plants into Victoria.': The paper, however, to 

 take precedence at the next general meeting. 



For the same reason, George Frederick Verdon, Esq., postponed 

 the moving of his resolutions on the union of Scientific Societies in 

 the Colony. 



The Rev. J. J. Bleasdale gave notice of motion to the following 

 effect : — 



" That the Institute apply to the Honorable the President of the 

 " Board of Land and Works, for a general order to enable the Institute 

 " to obtain from the national collections, at present located in the Uni- 

 " versity, any specimens necessary for illustrating subjects treated on 

 " in papers read before the Institute ; provided, that such specimens 

 " or preparations be transferred on the day of meeting at the expense 



