DUNEDIN NATURLIST FIELD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 3928, 18 September 1874, Page 3

DUNEDIN NATURLIST FIELD

CLUB,

The annual,.meeting of this Club., took took place in the Univttsity Bnilding last evening. In the absence of the President, Mr Alex. Bathgate becupitd the chair. ■ The attendance of,members ivas not numerous; The following report of tlie Club's proceedings for the past season was read by the Secretary, Mr P.' TnoarsoN •—

In laying the Report of the Club's proceedings for the past season before the members,' the Committee have much pleasure.'in •.congratulating''them-ori the amount of success which has attended their labours. The number of members has largely increased, and the attendance at the various excursions, though very irrcjrulnr, hax at times been very good. Botany, aj usual, has been the chief study of the ■members, and some first-rate collections have been made ; but other branches of out-door science have not been neglected.' In additi'-n to the Port Chalmers Railway, a section of the Clutha line i.s now available and a large extent of comparatively new country will be rendered of ca.sy access to the members—viz., ( ham Hills, Saddle Hill; Brighton,-the Collierie's,;&c. {Tnthe oth,er;direetion, a good road to Deborah Bny has opened up another'very interesting section of country, both geologically" anil hotanically. - Your Secretary;distributed copies of last year's Report pretty-liberally to most of the centres of population in the Colony, as well as; to a -number of similar Societies in the old country; ••• fi:. :.■■-:■■ '• Eleven.excursions were made duringthe year, being two fewer than last year. .It is worthy of note that a great many-of the Saturdays; of "the past season'were wet and stormy, wbich led tc. frequent postponements of the arranged excursions—fine Saturdays being the exceptirn. ■■" '..'.'"' :- .. ".' ;

The funds of the Club have;sto6d* all the calls made upon them, and there-is-a surplus to start the new season with. ...-.., .--.-. ,-..-*s*. ,--,,, ■

"It will he reiiicnibfere'd.'that at tlie last'genenil meeting it was proposed" to hold one or two indoor meetings during the winter; but'circumstances always intervened to prevent the" intention being carried out. However, the Coimnittee have not lost sight of the desirability of meetings df tlie proposed nature, at whicli papers could be read, collections compared, specimens exchanged, and so on, and will yet endeavour to carry out the idea.

From the Treasurer's report, it appeared that tliere.. was a balance.left with. which to commence the. hew: season,. after, providing ifpr a!l;pre>yious: expenses;; :;Afi:A ':.'... A:, The following gentlemen were proposed,as officebearers for the ensuing season :—Presid ■ ent, Captain Button •• Secretary rend Trear surer, '■'•• Mr ;TA "Thomson. CommitteeMessrs Bathgate, Beverly. Dr Black, Hodges, Jennings, Purdie, G> M. Thomson. Ten hew members were elected—Messrs Wicks, Petrie, Lord, Allan, Percival, .Buchanan, Hendly, r . Aristide Couvarel, Watheu, and M'Nauglitoh. '* '"' .- -• ; A conversational, discussion took; place oii various objects of interest, to which it was thought desirable the of the Club should be"directed duringT,he session. " Papers were then' read by the Secretary on Pur*burehu, 'arid-By-Mr Purdie ori'sbme new plants .discovered byhim during the past summer.--:■- .-; ; ■•:::..■:■:......-.-:■' <:!;■ r,-.-; •-.; ,-.-.-.-

Ther first ■ excursion for: th c V'season! was fixed for;;th.e;; first Saturday^ih^.October, .to ;the.l^)i-bury,:&c.-.-/ .*; lfi! 'fifi 'r-.1!,,. :A.,-.n A •■''? '■