was allowed to be destroyed by excessive 
hunting. 
Unfortunately, the powers that be 
have failed to date to recognise ade¬ 
quately the economic value of our na¬ 
tive fauna, and the present era gives 
every indication of affording future 
generations food for criticism concern¬ 
ing such want of recognition of either 
the present position or the lessons of the 
past. A crumb of comfort is provided, 
however, when one recalls that future 
historians will find that down through 
the years the Tasmanian Field Natu¬ 
ralists’ Club was doing all in its power 
to bring home to the authorities in 
particular and the public in general a 
true appreciation of the value of uui 
natural assets. A further example of 
4 lie foregoing was afforded to us » few 
hours later, when, on stopping at Maria 
Island, a visit was paid to the world- 
famous fossil cliffs. It will he remem¬ 
bered how the club tried to preserve til? 
most interesting portion of the cliffs—a 
small projecting headland of great scenic 
charm, and of such intense geological 
interest that it has been remarked upon 
bv visiting scientists from all parts ot 
the world. When the Government grant¬ 
ed mining rights over a large area ot 
the Island this sm 4, ll headland might well 
have been re< rved. It was not. Mid 
in spite of all the club members could 
do, the greater part of this most won¬ 
derful asset has been ground to dust. 
Trucks now run over the ruins of the 
point, drills and blasting powder are 
quickly reducing the remnants to metal, 
to be hurried awav to the factory at 
Darlington and reduced to cement. 
If this point had been reserved in the 
first instance no hardship would havv 
been done, and a small cutting would 
have permitted (he company to get tlieir 
material from the main face o-f the cliffs, 
which extend or a very consider¬ 
able distance. The commercial side 
would have been satisfied, and fu¬ 
ture generations of Tasmanians would 
have been the richer owing to the pos¬ 
session of a national ass.t of wonder¬ 
ful interest. As usual, however, imme¬ 
diate profit appeared to be the only con¬ 
sideration, and future historians were 
supplied with further data for criticism 
of the short-sighted actions of the pre¬ 
sent generation. 
Darlington at present is thoroughly iu 
the throes of another period of commer¬ 
cial activity, and as one’s mind wanders 
back one wonders if the present venture 
will prove permanent ant profitable, or 
merely prove another layer in the alter¬ 
nating bands of feverish commercial ac¬ 
tivity and quiet pastoral pursuits which 
give such an interest to tor history of 
this eastern isle, and particularly the 
township of Darlington. Along the 
shores of the creek the advancing au¬ 
tumn was having its effect on the Eng¬ 
lish trees which fringe the original set¬ 
tlement, which, although altered very 
considerably of late years still shows 
traces of the olden time3, and one can 
visualise the past—the days when Smith 
O'Brien wandered forth along the shore, 
his thoughts of a green island on the- 
shores of the North Atlantic or of Ilo- 
hepe Te Uinaroa, looking up to the sur¬ 
rounding hills and recalling many of the 
New Zealand mountains to which ho 
was destined never to return. A head¬ 
stone in the little cemetery on the point 
marks the site of the final resting placet 
of this Maori chief of the old regime. 
Three of his companions were enabled to 
return to the land of their birth, but 
death claimed Hoh-epe ere his freedom 
was granted. 
Leaving the island after a most inter, 
esting stay of three hours' duration, we 
headed for Marion Cny and the Canal. 
A strong westerly breeze caused soma 
delay, and entering The Narrows tha 
gale was threshing the waves into a 
sheet of white water. Darkness fell 
just as we reached the canal, and wea¬ 
ther conditions generally w?re such that 
It was deemed inadvisable to attempt to 
get through. When the decision was 
conveyed to the campers, there was an 
outburst of cheering, and preparations 
were made to make the best of condi¬ 
tions as they existed. The ladles were 
supplied with bunks, and a few of the 
more seasoned campaigners found excel¬ 
lent quarters. The remainder construct¬ 
ed various “possics,” and made things 
as comfortable as possible. At day¬ 
light we were under way. arid with som» 
minor adventures got safeiy through tha- 
canal and shaped a course for home. 
11 
