i^o The Australasian Scientific Magazine. [Nov. i, 1885 
natives, who rolled down huge rocks at the party, and got shot in return, 
two men being killed, one of them being caught as he fell halfway down a 
lofty precipice by a jagged rock, and there hung. The party then passed 
through very rocky country, the creeks flowing through rugged gorges, and 
forming numerous waterfalls and cascades. The scenery was throughout 
the trip extremely picturesque, the formations of the rocks being frequently 
of an extraordinary character. The party did not, however, have a very 
pleasant time of it altogether, as the days were hot and sultry; the nights 
were frequently very cold, the natives were hostile, snakes and insects 
abounded, and even the very nuts which fell from the trees, and which oc- 
casionally formed their only provender, had to go through extraordinary 
preparations before their poisonous properties could be expelled. The 
party crossed the Barron on January 27, and were hospitably enter- 
tained at a selector’s clearing, where a good meal of civilised victuals was 
obtained, and the “ malignant malaria exploration,” as the explorer terms 
it, was brought to a conclusion, with the resultant conviction in the ex- 
plorer’s mind that there were good prospects of finding gold in the creek 
beds visited, as also precious stones, although the Chinese miners did not 
appear to be working in the right direction. 
At the conclusion of the paper, for the preparation of which a cordial 
vote of thanks was awarded to the explorer, owing to the protracted ill- 
ness of Mr. Maiden the Honorary Secretary to the Society, it was deemed 
advisable by the Administrative Council to appoint a joint honorary sec- 
retary. Mr. T. H. Myring having consented to accept the position, he 
was appointed Joint Honorary Secretary by the Administrative Council, 
until the appointment could be confirmed at a general meeting of members. 
Mr. Harrie Wood moved, and Mr. Hawley seconded a resolution approv- 
ing of the appointment by the council, and declaring Mr. T. H. Myring 
joint honorary secretary of the society, 
A work on the “ Origin and Migration of the Polynesian Nation,” by 
the late John Dunmore Lang, was presented to the society by the widow 
of the author. 
After passing a vote of thanks to the Royal Society for granting the use 
of the room, the meeting adjourned. 
During the week letters have been received from the Queensland Gov- 
ernment refusing to send a steam launch in search of the S.S. Bonito and 
party. Mr. Lawe stating that in accordance with the wishes of the society 
he had got Mr. Forbes to sign the Society’s agreement, and had advanced 
him about £360 out of the £500 voted by the society to assist him in his 
exploration of the Owen Stanley Range of Mountains. Mr. Forbes, 
thanking the society, for vote of £500, and informed the society that he 
had signed the agreements &c., required by them. 
