156 THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 
OUR NATURAL HISTORY AND WILD FLOWER 
EXHIBITION. 
By Davip G. Sreap, Honorary Organiser. 
In organising this Exhibition I aimed at making it some- 
thing unique in our history. It was hoped to do at least fair 
justice to the floral section while greatly extending the scope 
of our efforts so as to indicate to both members of the Society 
and to the general public, something of the wide field covered 
by the Society’s work in Science and Education. 
With the aid of many members—past and present—and 
with the splendid assistance of our associates in University and 
Government circles, it was possible to achieve a widely-acclaimed 
success. On all sides was to be heard but one lament: “What 
a pity the Exhibition is open for such a short time.” I bring 
this prominently under the notice of the Society right at the 
outset, because undoubtedly we must consider in future shows 
of this kind, means of conducting them in such a way as shall 
enable both members and the general public to reap the fullest 
benefit possible by way of scientific education and recreation. 
That means, in effect, that we must maintain the Exhibition 
daily—and all day—for at least one week. It is worth all the 
effort that we can put into it, for unquestionably it is one of 
the finest means that could be devised for carrying out the work 
that was our principal reason in founding the Society. 
The Director of Education, the Chief Inspector of Schools, 
three Ministers of the Crown, several’ University Professors, 
members of the teaching staffs: of Colleges, great Publie Schools 
and Technical College, as well as many others of note in Educa- 
tion and science, all passed high encomiums upon our work and 
without exception referred to its utility and the pity that such 
an Exhibition should be open for such a short time as two days. 
* Yet still it is true that one must crawl before he walks! 
Through the courtesy and kindness of the Minister for 
Education and of the Director (Mr. S. H. Smith) the fine Ex- 
hibition Hall of the Education Building, in Loftus Street, 
Sydney, was made available for our Natural History and Wild 
Flower Exhibition on the dates of the 17th and 18th October, 
1923. This handsome and commodious hall is disposed in ee 
wings—the smaller (facing Loftus Street) being about 44 ft. 
length, by a width of about 35 ft., while the larger is 96 ft. in 
length with a width of about 35 ft. 
At first sight it seemed rather a forlorn hope to be able 
to do adequate justice to the large space available in such a 
