• S.A* NAT., VOL. XV. 
June 12th, 1934. 
By W. H. Selway. 
67. 
The Annual Meeting (2/10/83) having approved of the 
'Council’s proposals as to the suggested Natural History Section, 
the way was now clear to getting such a Society started. Ac¬ 
cordingly the next step was to call a meeting to explain its objects. 
1 may say I do not see the term “Field Naturalists’ Section” 
used until this meeting was called by advertisement in the daily 
newspapers of 5th November, 1883, the references previously 
.being to ‘‘Natural History” Section”. An advertisement in the 
“Register” of 5th November, 1883, after announcing the ordinary 
meeting of the Royal Society for Tuesday, 6th November, states: 
“On the following evening (i.e., November 7th) at 8 o’clock in 
the Banqueting Room of the Town Hall, Adelaide, Professor R. 
Tate, F.G.S., will deliver a lecture on the objects of the Field 
Naturalists’ Society. Ladies and gentlemen desirous of becoming 
Foundation Members are invited to kindly attend and register 
their names. Admission free to lecture. (Sgd.)—A. Molineux, 
Asst. Hon. Sec. 
On the following day, November 6th, 1883, a paragraph 
appears in the “Register” in which it is explained that to save 
-disappointment, only those can be admitted to the lecture to 
whom tickets have been forwarded or those who are Fellows, 
members or associates of the Royal Society. 
The lecture by Professor Tate in the Banqueting Room of 
the Town Hall on 7th November, 1883, to explain the objects of 
the Section, was, as stated in the “Register” next day, “highly 7 
interesting, and was greatly enjoyed by those who had the good 
fortune to be present.” I was one of those fortunate ones and 
can confirm the opinion thus expressed. I remember that the 
Professor’s first words were “Have y T ou a hobby:” He went on 
to explain the many benefits to be derived from a studv of 
nature, and that it was a cheap, interesting, and easy hobby to 
acquire. If time permitted, I should like to read the whole of 
the excellent newspaper report of the lecture. As a matter of 
history, however, I should just mention that the Professor told 
us that the first Field Club to.be established in the United King¬ 
dom was that in Berwickshire in 1831. He himself had founded 
one in Belfast in 1863. Amongst others who had been connected 
with such clubs in the old country 7 were Rev. W. Howchin and 
Mr. W. E. Pickels, so that they had plenty of organising power 
to start one here in Adelaide. I notice that a statement of the 
lecturer that Ladies were especially welcome to become members 
of the Section was greeted with “loud applause.” 
1 had the honor of proposing a vote of thanks to Professor 
Tate for giving this lecture. 
