Report of^Society's Meetings. 407 
Correspondence on the matter of the alleged overcharge 
on telegrams as stated by Mr. Freyssinier, that, " it was 
concluded that we had no power to disturb or interfere 
with the existing contracts." 
A letter on the same matter from C. W. Earle, chair- 
man of the W. I. & P. Telegraph Company was taken as 
read, in which it was stated that " the suggestion of 
overcharge made by Mr. Freyssinier, a former servant of 
this Company, is absolutely false." It was ordered that 
Mr. Freyssinier be informed accordingly. 
Mr. Jacob Conrad gave notice of a motion to the 
effea that :— 
Whereas under the Ordinance, political questions are excluded from 
discussion at the Meetings of the Society, and doubts have arisen as to 
the meaning of the word " political," which, if applied striftly, would 
operate against the very objecls of the Society. — Be it resolved, that 
this Society recognises the necessity for obtaining an authoritative 
definition of the terms of Ordinance 19 of 1866, Seftion 6 ; if necessary 
by a short Ordinance, and requests the Board of Directors of the 
Society, to take such measures as may be needful for that purpose. 
The thanks of the Society were given to Capt. Dadson 
for a copy of the Royal Navy List. 
The Secretary read a letter from the Government 
Secretary with reference to Mr. Jenman's collecting 
specimens of the flowers, &c, of forest trees for the 
Society, stating that while His Excellency is willing that 
the Government Botanist should be available to the 
Society, he is not able to sanction the expenditure of 
public funds unless especially voted by the Combined 
Court. The letter was referred to the Board of Directors. 
The Secretary read a communication from the Govern- 
ment, enclosing a circular from the Secretary of State 
for the Colonies, requesting information as to the best 
means of increasing the demand for Scotch cured herrings 
