5 
and worth more than any fine that could he inflicted. The same 
provision was to apply to the eggs of the birds. 
Although the finances of the Society were in a fairly favourable 
state they really required money for what he might call a 
“Watchers’ Fund.” There were many bird sanctuaries in which 
birds were slaughtered abominably, and the Society was being con¬ 
tinually asked to provide Watchers, which entailed heavy 
expenditure. 
He was sorry to say that, during the year, they had lost their 
treasurer, Sir George Measom, through death. Mr. Sydney Buxton, 
M.P., had very kindly consented to succeed Sir George Measom in 
the treasurership. Mr. Buxton was a great lover of birds and was 
much interested in their protection. 
In conclusion Mr. Sharpe gave some details of the means which 
the Society was about to adopt in reference to the introduction of 
Bird and Tree Hay into the British Isles. 
It was proposed to ask the Committee to try the experiment 
bv selecting two counties in which to invite all the Schools to join in 
a competition. The children would be asked to submit notes on 
natural objects, and essays describing the birds they had seen, 
setting forth what they knew of them, and the Society would give 
prizes for the best of these, and a Challenge Shield to the school to 
which the successful competitors belonged. The presentation of 
these awards might be made the occasion of a holiday—perhaps 
on the King’s birthday—on which amusement should be provided 
for the children, and a procession could be arranged to a spot where 
the children could plant trees, over the subsequent growth of which 
they might watch. 
Sir John Cockbttrn, former Minister of Education, Premier 
and Agent-General for South Australia, supported the resolution. 
He said that a Bird Protection Society had been established in 
South Australia, and, though it had not accomplished all its aims, 
he did not think that many people in that country would now be 
found wearing “ osprey ” plumes. In South Australia they had 
societies for encouraging all sorts of studies connected with natural 
history, and, some years ago, a Boys’ Field Club was established. 
That Society adopted the maxim of “ The Naturalist Loves Life,” 
and discountenanced the slaughter of birds. As Sir George 
Kekewich had said, birds and trees were very intimately associated. 
Trees were the choirs in which the winged messengers from heaven 
chanted' the matins and the vespers of their service of song. In 
1886, during his first term of office as a Minister of the Crown, he 
introduced the celebration of Arbor Hay. Though denounced at first 
as a fad it took hold right away. School Boards existed all over 
the country, and Arbor Hay was now observed by them in the 
different districts, the date varying according to climate and local 
circumstances. It generally occurred in July or August, which in 
