BARRIER REEF.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 162, 10 June 1939, Page 10

BARRIER REEF.

ADDRESS TO LUNCH CLUB. An explanation of the geographical position and other features of the Great Barrier Reef was given at the weekly meeting of the .Palmerston North Citizens’ Lunch Club, yesterday. by Mr A. Hopwood. The "speaker said the reef lay off the north-cast const of Australia, its 1250 miles by 50 miles embracing many marine oddities. It was the ltvrgest continuous mass ot coral in the world, and in order to fully demonstrate the unique beauty of the coral formations the speaker made extensive use of illustrations, projecting them on to a screen. The reef was composed of shells about the size of a pm s head, and tumbler shaped. Those cemented themselves on to a rock, and built a limestone skeleton. There were over 100 different types of coral, and Mr Hopwood explained in a lucid manner the individual beauty of many of these. He also dealt " with the many species of fish which abounded in the waters surrounding the reef, lully explaining their characteristics. . On the motion of the chairman (Mr A. Rowe), Mr Hopwood was accorded a vote of thanks. Air J. Espincr was elected a member, and Mr R. L. C. Aitchisou was appointed the thirtyfirst life member. Guests of the club were the iollowinrr ladies: Alcsdaines Morton. G. Gibbs. E. Scott, G. AY. Callender. A. V. Pizzev, AY. AYalton, A. Hopwood and AY. IT. Brown.