FIELD CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 17824, 22 November 1921, Page 3

FIELD CLUB

ANNUAL REPORT. The report of the Dunedin Naturalists’ Field Club states that tho past year has been the most successful the club has had since it was reconstituted in 1915. The membership is fifty-six, an increase of thirty-six on last year's. The increased interest taken in the work of the club during the past year is very gratifying, making possible the adoption ol a definite line of work. Early in the year it was decided to undertake the study of the natural history of tho Otago Peninsula, with a view to its publication at some future date, and most of the excursions since held have been devoted towards the furtherance of this work, which will probably take several seasons to complete. Tho thanks of the club are due to tho leaders of the different sections for their valuable work in the interests of the club and for their attention to tho inquiring needs of beginners. Excursions have been made fortnightly to different parts of the district, and indoor meetings held at first monthly and afterwards fortnightly throughout the season. Thanks are due to several generous donors to tho funds during the year. The_ Hon. G. M, Thomson delivered a lecture in aid of the club, the subject being ‘ Our Fishes and Other Sea Life,’ and this was the means of a substantial addition being made to the funds. The year closed with a credit balance of £24 Is 6d in hand.

In this, the fiftieth year of the_ club’s existence, tho report continued, it is only fitting that some reference should bo mads to its early history and those whose enthusiasm for the study of science was responsible for the inauguration of the club. To the late Mr Peter'Thomson is duo tho credit of having first suggested the formation of a naturalists’ field club in Dunedin. During tho summer of 1871-72 excurious wore made, and on October 5, 1872, a meeting was held, at which tho dub was formally constituted, officebearers elected, and a set of rules adopted. Tho office-bearers elected at this meeting were; —President, Mr J. S. Webb; secretary, Mr Peter Thomson; committee— Dr Black and Messrs Alex, Bathgate, A. C. Purdy, and G. M. Thomson. It is pleasing to note that one of the members of that committee of 1872. now the Hon, G. M. Thomson,'ALL.C., still takes an active interest in the club as our president. The newly-formed club immediately set about recording the botany of the district, and in 1880 a catalogue of the indigenous and introduced flowering plants/ ferns, and seaweeds occurring in tho Dunedin district was published. This catalogue, which is the only publication of its kind issued in New Zealand, was brought up to date and republished 1 in 1896 and again in 1916.