ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. xix. 
by F. Luoyp, B.A., LL.B., on “‘Ancient Italian Life.’’ (Post- 
poned.) 
Also that the first Session of the Mngineering Section 
would be held on July 20th, 22nd and 24th at 8 p.m., when 
eleven papers on the subject of ‘‘ Water Conservation and 
Irrigation,” including a lantern lecture on ‘‘ The Murray,”’ 
would be read and discussed. His Excellency the State 
Governor, Vice-Patron of the Society, had kindly consented 
to attend, and tickets of admission could be obtained from 
the Hon. Secretaries. 
THE FOLLOWING PAPERS WERE READ: 
1. “The Sand-drift problem in New South Wales,”’ by J. H. 
MAIDEN, F.L.S. 
The author stated that the question of sand-drifts is of 
national importance, and that it may be divided into the 
coastal problem, the sand dunes along the coast, and the 
western problem, dealing with the shifting sands in the 
arid western interior. It will be convenient to treat them 
separately. 
I. The Coastal Problem.—The author showed what had 
been done in reclaiming sand-dunes in the special cases of 
(a) Newcastle, and (b) Bondi, near Sydney. The sand-drift 
problem is a forestry rather than an engineering question, 
and is so dealt with in countries outside Australia. Sand- 
dune reclamation consists of three stages :—1. Cutting off 
the further supply of sand from the ocean. 2. Fixing the 
sand by means of vegetation. 3. Maintenance of such 
vegetation. The author dealt with these points in detail, 
under (1) explaining the old French official method of form- 
ing the protective “ dune littorale ’ and the modifications, 
in the direction of simplicity, which have been adopted in 
recent years. Under the head of (2) while agreeing that 
the Maritime Pine, used in the French Landes, is of great 
value even in New South Wales, he recommends the use of 
