254 J. H. MAIDEN, 
In an advertisement in the ‘‘Herald’’ of Monday, 17th 
June, 1850, The Society has a new title, viz. “‘The Aus- 
tralian Society,’’ and there is a paragraph stating that the 
first soiree will be held at the Royal Hotel this evening 
and the Governor, the patron of the Society, will be present. 
This ‘‘soiree”’ is reported to the extent of a column and 
three quarters in the “Herald ”’ of Wednesday, 19th June, 
1850. The report is headed ** The Australian Society.” 
The President, Mr. EK. Deas-Thomson, was absent, and 
Dr. Nicholson, the Vice President, took the chair, while 
His Excellency the Governor (Sir Charles Fitzroy) was 
present. 
Dr. Douglass, one of the Secretaries, explained the 
arrangements for the transaction of the business of the 
Society, and then read a paper by Sir Thomas Mitchell “‘On 
the external structure and undeveloped resources of the 
County of Cumberland’’ which occupied almost a column 
of small type. 
The Rev. G. EK. Turner exhibited an insect which had 
been found very destructive to the vine (evidently the vine 
caterpillar). 
A variety of dyed wools was shown by a Mr. Gee, and a 
discussion took place on dyes generally, including the blue- 
black dye from the bark of the New Zealand tree Eno (at 
a subsequent meeting referred to as Hino. The modern 
spelling is Hinau, Eloeocarpus dentatus Vahl.—J.H.M.) 
Dr. Douglass read a memorandum from the sub-com- 
mittee on fish, of which Mr. Want was stated to be the 
most active member. 95 specimens had been procured in 
a few months, and were exhibited. There were several 
new varieties “‘of which descriptions will be published in 
the Society’s Transactions.’’ (If it were intended to publish 
a separate volume, the idea was never carried out.—J.H.M.) 
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