SCIENCE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18929, 29 January 1925, Page 11

SCIENCE AND ART.

DOMiNION BOARD MEETS* SPECIMENS FOR MUSEUM, i [by telegraph.—own cosrespondknt. ] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. A meeting of the Board of Science and Art was held to-day. The Hon. G. M. Thomson, M.L.C., presided, and thers were also present, Dr. P. Marshall, Dr. J. A. Thomson, Dr. G. H. Scholefield, Messrs. H. M. Gore, J. Hislop, P. G. Morgan, and W. R. B. Oliver. Dr. Thomson reported that a number of specimens from Antarctic expeditions had been received from the British Museum. Some of the specimens would be available for the Auckland, Canterbury and Otago Museums. Mr. Oliver stated that satisfactory progress was being made with the printing of the new edition of the late Mr. Cheeseman's "Manual of New Zealand Flora." He hoped that the work would be finished before June. It was agreed to sug- ! gest to the Government that every expedition be used in getting the work com•pelted and issued. The report on the museum expedition to the Poor Knights Islands and other Northern localities was presented. It was stated that collect-ions of plants, fishes, birds, insects, and molluscs were made, and a series of photographs taken. Tho opinion was expressed that wild pigs, which were doing a great deal of harm on the Islands, should be completely exterminated. A visit to Hen Islands it was reported, showed that among the lufd life the saddle-back was plentiful. It was agreed that some of these birds be distributed to Kfipiti Island and other bird sanctuaries A number of specimens of the native frog were collected at the Tokateo Ridge, Goromandel. Some of these frogs had been liberated on Kapiti Island and others had been sent to the Wellington Museum. The board apnroved of an application by the director of the Wellington Museum that further assistance be granted in the way of organising and collecting expeditions. It was agreed to express the thanks of the board to Commodore Beal for the offer of a passage on a warshio to the Pacific Islands of a scientist. The # hope was expressed that some scientific men from New Zealand would in the future avail themselves of this offer for carrying out research work.