ANNUAL MEETING 
127 
expect to make money out of it. With regard to the old woods, 
he disagreed with the previous speaker, and said that it was only 
in certain parts, most observed by the public, that the old trees 
were falling down and were not being replaced ; buc in other less 
observed parts he would say that two-thirds of the old Forest 
was being replaced by the hand of nature, and so he did not 
think there was need to be very anxious upon that particular 
score ; but the Selborne Society certainly ought to take a special 
interest in the New Forest and watch over its welfare. At the 
present time there was a Bill in the House of Commons which 
he hoped to see passed, and which was promoted by the Office 
of Woods and Forests, to try to settle the vexed questions 
between the Commoners and the Crown ; and he should like to 
say this, that if the Bill was passed it would do away with 
a great deal of the friction now existing, and the Selborne and 
other Societies would find their work made very much easier. 
He was very happy to be able to speak to them on the subject, 
and would be very pleased to give them any information about 
the New Forest he could, and to assure them he was carefully 
watching over its welfare. 
Professor F. E. Hulme said he had great pleasure in pro- 
posing a very hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman. They all 
knew that Sir John was an exceedingly busy man and hoped that 
he found some relaxation in coming among them. A remark 
had been made that most of the members only met once a year 
on an occasion like the present, but he thought that it would be 
a pleasant and desirable thing if they could meet oftener. As 
their delegate to the Conference of the South-eastern Union of 
Scientific Societies, he thought he ought to make a brief report 
to them. He duly attended the Conference at Rochester, and 
endeavoured as far as was in his power to maintain the objects 
of their Society. A certain amount of business was transacted 
and various rules passed and some amended which would make 
this Union still more valuable. He was also pleased to announce 
that, although no official announcement had yet been made, he 
believed on the next day the Gardens at Kew would be opened 
at 10 a.m. 
]\Ir. A. J. Western seconded the vote of thanks to Sir John 
Lubbock. 
This was carried unanimously; and. Sir John Lubbock 
having briefly returned thanks, the business part of the meeting 
closed. 
In the Conversazione that followed, Mr. R. Kearton gave his 
lecture, “ Wild Nature with a Camera,” illustrated by magni- 
ficient slides, from photographs taken by Mr. C. Kearton, of 
birds and insects. In many cases the notes of the birds were 
cleverly imitated, and the extremely able and interesting account 
of the methods adopted to obtain the beautiful pictures thrown 
on the screen was closely followed by the delighted and 
interested audience. 
