A FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 37, 15 February 1881, Page 3

A FIELD NATURALISTS' CLUB.

TO THB EDITOR OP THB EVENING TOST. Sib—lt was with much pleasure I read "F.S.'s" romarks on the above snbjeot in your issue of Friday last. That such a club, onoe started in Wellington, would receive a hearty support from a large number I have no hesitation in affirming. Three persons hav&already, since Friday last, stated to me their willingness to join (all three having gone through a a course of " collecting," and so become well acquainted with the country near Wellington), and I have no doubt 7 could name fifteen among my own personal acquaintances who would gladly be members of the club. I was also greatly pleased and a little surprised when I noticed that "F.S." considered Wellington the oentre of " splendid field" for collecting natural science objects. Such has been my opinion for a long time past, but I have bo frequently been contradicted point blank, and found so few to agree with me that I have become rather afraid of putting forward my views. I may say, however, that I have never been to a coast where a greater variety of invertebrates is fonnd than that within a twelve miles radius of Wellington. The bush, too, for botanists, and the stones and earth strata for geologists, will be found to exhibit numbers of phenomena, and yield curious specimens, which in other parts are very rare —many, indeed, not having been discovered outside of Wellington. Leaving to an abler pen than mine to point out the peculiar advantages of joining a F.N.0., I would only bring to your notice that the knowledge of the country obtained by working with such a club is bound to become useful in afterlife if remaining near Wellington The healthy exercise of walking strengthens the body, while the mind is being cultivated by acquiring a knowledge of zoology? botany, or geology, or all three. In conclusion, I can only echo " F.S.s" wish—that a meeting to form the club may be held at onoe, and that it will be a great success. I am, &0., Stylus. Wellington, 14th February. P.S.—lf " F.S." thinks he can assist to form the olub better by working conjointly with a few others, would he kindly communicate with "Stylus," Evening Post Office.

The Napier Daily Telegraph understands ' that overtures have been made to Mr. *orm«nd to join the Ministry, but, in the present condition of the finances of the colony, the offer did not attract him from private life. The tame paper, discussing Captain Russell's fitness and chances, says: —Mr. prmond has no notion of " financing " operations when it is possible to pay cash for them, and he would refuse to proceed till he saw his way clearly to get the colony out of debt, and to keep it within its revenue. Captain Russell, on the other hand, if we may judge him rightly, would prefer the development of the natural wealth of the colony to retrenchment, and a progressive policy to one which would be limited by considerations of debt. A London Joint Stock Association has been formed to develop Borneo. Challenges and duels on the Jewish question seem to be the order of the day in Berlin. More than three thousand Hindu girls are being educated in Christian schools In India.