Clonal Sncittn oi Casmanhi.
ABSTRACT OF PHOCEELINaS, APPwIL 29th, 1902.
A meeting of the Eoyal Socie!;y of Tas- and expansive beyond any limit they mania was held on Tuesday evening, April could assign to it.'" The Fellows had 29, 1902, in the society^s new room, Argyle- done very well so far. They had got s'treet. The President, His Excellency natural history specimens, and a fairly the GrOTernor, Sir Arthur Havelook, good rep.resantation of art, and, on tlie G.C.S.I., G.'C.M.G., presided. The Go- whole, he thought the institution would vernor was accompanied by Lady Have- compare favourably with any institution lock and Captain Gaskell, A.D.C. in the other States. But they could say now. as the secretary said in 18o7, that the Welcome to the New President. society must be cumulative and expan- sive beyond any limit thsy could a».-ign The Hon. Nicholas J. Brown, Speaker to it. Its first expansion now should be of the House of Assembly, and Vice-Presi- in the direction of the securing and equip- dent of the Eoyal Society, said he was ment of a Techuological museum. I'hat charged with a duty of a y&i:y pleasant seemed to be necessary, in view of the an- character. He had, on behalf of the ticipations that, in the near fature, Tas- Fellows of the Eoyal Society, to welcome mania would become an important manu- His Excellency on that, the first, occasion facturing and distributing centre for the of fTiS presiding at a meeting of the Eel- whole of Australia. Technical instruc- lows. According to the charter of the tion was being imparted in our schools, society, the representative of His 'Majesty and he hoped that technical knowledge the King was, ex officio. President of the would progress. But 'a Tecl^nol^g!:'al Eoyal Society of Tasmania, a privilege museum was a very important tuing which, he believea, was not included in to have at our command. While the charter of any other Eoyal Society in welcoming His Excellency to the Australia. They knew, from, ample evi- Eoyal Society, ihe ventured to express dence, since His Excellency's arrival m a hope that, while it was certain Tasmania, that he took a very warm and that the present moiment was not an sj'mpathetic interest in the welfare of this opporttine one at which to discuss heavy State, and the Fellows of the siociety expenditure, yet they believed the pre- hoped that His Excellency would derive sent difficulties would rioU away, and that pleasure from his 'association with th'at His Excellency's tenure of office, as society. They felt confident the society Governor, and as President of the Society, vroald derive great advantage, encourage- might be signalised by the addition of a ment, and assistance from His Excel- Technological m'useum to the National lency's ass'ociatioin with the society from Museum of Tasmania. He extended to time to time. He desired briefly to al- His Excellency a very cordial welcome on lude to a few instances in the past his- belhalf of the Fellows of the Society. (Ap- tory of the society. In the early days of plause.) its existence, considerable difficulty arose His Excelleaicy the Governor said fie regarding land for its use. One Govern- begged the Fellows to accept his very sin- ment after another promised land, but a cere thanks for the extremely kind terms great deal 'of correspondence took pla3e, which they had extended to him. and a few years ago they found that their He felt proud to occupy tlie chair whidh title to a portion of tihe land supposed to had been occupied by John Franklin, Wil- be obtained was doubtful. Tlie recoirds liam Denison, and Eobert Hamilton. (Ap- of the siociety were searched, and a state- plause.) He was unprepared for the sug- ment was prepared, showing beyond all gestion that was thrown out by the Vice- doubt, that while it was the general in- President, but (for the short time he had tention to' grant the society a large block had to reflect upon it) it seemed to be one of land, including Franklin-square, ultim- that deserved consideration. He trusted ately the land given was confined to the that before his time wa:s over, the idea block between Macquarie - street and Da- might be carried into practice. He vey-street, now occupied by the society. tlianked them once more for their kind Their title to that larg» ajea of land -was Trel'oome, and they would now proceed to now assured, but he desired to refer par- the business of the evening. (Applause.) ticularly to a letter found in the corre- spondence written by the early secretary, New Fellows. in which he spoke cf the necessity for Major E. C. Lewis, D.S.O., and Dr. ample space being reser'ped to the society. E. E. Whishaw, and Mr. Horace Watson, He S'aid the society "must be cumulative were elected Fellows of tfie society. —
Apologies. arctic investigators; Sir Joseph Hooker, the great botanist; Sir George <}rey, tlie Apologies for unavoidable absence were eminent colonial statesman and poli- received from the Aichbishop of H )!)a.rt, tician; the Keverend Mr. Colenso, the ar- Mr. T. Stephens. M.A.. F.G.S., fuul Mr. dent naturalist; the Reverend Di. Lillie. L. Kod way. an eminent scholar and divine; Sir Thomas Mitchell, the Australian ex- PiesiJent's Address. plorer. I could greatly prolong the list. His Excellency the Governor, as Pres'i- but I fear to weary you. The names I deut, deliveied the followiug presidential have recalled to you are probably already addres's : — growing faint in the memory of the pie- Mr. Vice - President, members of sent generation. But the roll of the so- the Council, and Fellows of the ciety contains one name which is fresh in Koyal Society, — Among the many all our minds and hearts—that of Sir honourable and agieeab/le positions James Agnew, w'hose keen intellect, and held by the Governor of Tasmania, there whose warm poAver of sympathetic in- is none more honourable, none moie agree- terest, pervade the whole history of the able, than that of President of the l\'oyal societ.v. from its earliest days, sixty years Society of Tasmania. Not only can the ago, until November of last .year, when he Royal Society claim to be one of the oldest was called to his lest. All Tasmania owes scientific bodies of Australasia, but it may Sir James Agnew a deep debt of grati- also justly pride itself on having contri- tude for the good deeds, for the open-hand- buted largely to the stores of science and ed munificence, and for the noble example, research' which have been laid up in this by which, during a long life, he helped to great Southern Doriiinion, The societrj' raise the character of her people, to cheer had its beginning in an informal as-socia- their hearts, and to brighten their lives. lion, of Sir Joliu Franklin and of men Tasmania and her Royal Society need no among his friends and acquaintances, who visible monument to keep alive their re- shared with him his love of knowledge and membrance of Sir James Agnew. But. if of inquiiy. Under Sir John Franklin's they did, it may be found in marble, in care, this association grew, until in 18-11. the beautiful work of the sculptor's art. before he relinquished his office of Gover- which adorns the Art Gallery of our nor, it was foimed into an organised so- Museum, and "which he has bequeathed to ciety, called the Tasmanian Society. But, Tasmania. The Honourable C. H. Giant it was not until three years later, when and Dr. Bright, who passsd away only a Sir John Franklin had left the co'lony. few weeks before Sir James Agnew\ have that the institution which he had brought left also a record of earnest and success- into being, and which he had iso lovingly ful work, in the service of the objects of cherished, reached its fulness of strength the Royal Society, and of high aims for and dignity. On the 12Lh September. 1844. the improvement of the community among Sir J. E, Eaidley-Wilmor, Sir .Tohii whom they lived and laboured. And now. Franklin's succe-sor in the Government before I c'lose my testimony, which I feel of Tasmania, was able to proclaim that to be inadequate and impel feet, to the the Royal So':iety. with an approved con- zeal, the perseverance, and the ability stitution, and witli a grant of i.'4-OO a year which have been devoted to the further- from publi.- funds, had been formally es- ance of the objects of the society. I should tablished. At the same time, the Gover- not be doing justice to my subject, if I nor was authorised *"o make the auspicious were to omit the name of our secretary, announcement that Her Majesty the Mr. Alexander Morton. I have hardly yet Queen had signified her consent to be Pat- ceased to be a stranger among you. But, ron of the society. For fifty-eight years already, the assiduity, the tact, the power until by death the Empire lost the noblest of organisation, which Mr. Morton has and be-t Sovereign that has ever been l>rought to bear upon the promotion of the Eoyal Societv continued to hold and the interests of the Royal Society in par- treasure this signal mark of honour. His ticular, and upon the advance of science, Majesty the King lias now been graciously and upon the cultivation of art in Tas- pleased to become Patron, The leading ob- mania, in general, have been forced upon jects of the Eoyal Society were defined to my attention. You, who have known Mr. be the investigation of tl'e physical charac- Morton for many years, and who have had ter of Tasmania, and the illustration of long experience of his work, of his con- its natural history and productions. The stant and strenuous efforts, and I ma.y say constitution and objects of the societv re- his successful efforts, to dp good, are, I main, at the pi-esent day, substantiallv know, deeply imbued with the respect and what they weie at the time of its estab- gratitude which are due to him. Mr. Mor- lishment in 1844. Among the names of ton's labour among us is a labour of love. men associated with its work, the Poval He has lately returned from much-needed Society records with pride—Sir .Tohn rest and recreation in New Zealand; and Frank'in. its distinguirshed founder; Cap- I know you w411 join with me in trusting tains Ross and Crozier, succes-ful Ant- that he may be long spared to continue hi;* Ill career of iisefuluess among lis. Aud. now Antarctic Expedition. I beg leave to be allowed to give a short The annals of science have been marked summary' of the hisiory, for the past year, by the departure of the Antarctic ship of the Eoyal Society, and of the Museum Discovery, under the command of Captain and Art Gallery, insititutions which are Scott, Royal Navy, assisted by a staff of closel}^ allied with it. The council of the highly scientific men—among whom is Mr. society aud the of Museum Boaid Trus- L. Beruacchi, a .young man, educated at have suffered tees great los? in the death the Hutchins School, in Hobart. Mr. of the thi ee revered whose members names Bernacchi was the meteorologist of the I have already mentioned. And, by the re- Southern Cross Expedition, which, under signation and departure of Bishop Mont- Sir George Newnes, explored the Ant- gomery, the council has been deprived of arctic m 1898-99. On the return of that the services of one of its niost practical expedition to London, Mr. Bernacchi was and active workers. The four vacancies awarded by the Royal Geographical So- thus created have been filled by the ap- ciety of England the society^s diploma, the of pointment the Honourable Gamaliel Cuthbert Grant Medal, and the so- Butler. M.R.C.S.E.. M.L.C.. Professor ciety's gold watch, for his distinguished Neil Smith. M.A.. Mr. L. Rodsvar, and services. Mr. A. Mault. The high charac- ter and the scientific attainments of these A.A.A.S. Ninth Mesting. men are well known to you, and need no
comment f j om me. The scientific objects The dignity of Hobart as a seat of of the society have been furthered, and its science has been .enhanced by a session of records enlightened and enriched by the the Australasian AssociatiDn for the Ad- presentations of nineteen papers' on Orni- vancement of Science. I believe I may sa.y thology, Ichthyology, Conchology, that this was the most successful meeting Geology, Botany, Astronomv. and Geo- of the association ever held in Austral- graphy. The subjects and atithois of these asia. Seven hundred members attended papers are the following: — the session. A session ot the Intercolonial Medical Congress has also been held in Ornithology. 1. Note of the birds of — Hobart; and, although this congress is Tasmania, bv Col. W. V. Legge, E.A., not directly connected with the Royal So- C.M.Z.S. ciety, I ma.y claim that its session in. Tas- 2. Fishes loht'hyolcgy. — The of Tas- mania has added to the scientific lustre mantia. "by B. M. Johnston, F.S.S. of the year. Conchology.—3, The re'cent Mo'hisca of Tasmania, by Miss Ma:y Lodder. 4. New Additions to the Tasmanian Museum. Notes 'on some Land shells fiom Maria Island, by \V. F. Petterd. C.M.Z.S. In the next place, I wish to draw your Geology.—5. The Mineral-s of Tasmania. attention for a moment to the important 6. Description and analysis of a new extensions and improvements which have •species of Mineral. "Petterdite," a new been made to the accommodation of the the addition the room Ox.ychloride of lead. 7. Ue-cripfion of ;?- Eoyal Society, by of Meteorite from the Cay'ra River. 8. in which we hold this evening's meeting, Microscopic structure of isome Tasmanian to the buildings of the Museum, and of the Toeks, by W. F. Petterd. C.M.Z.S. 9. Art G£.lTery, and to the additions which Outlines .of the geology of Tasmania. 10. iiave been m'ade to the collections of the Progress of the mineral iudustiv of Tas- Art Gallery. I have already aWuded to mania, by W. H. Twelvetrees, F^.G.S. 11. the splendid gift 'oy Sir James Agnew of Flexible sandstone, by Proie-sor E. G. the statue of Medusa—probably the finest Hogg, M.A. 12. Nates on the discovery of piece of sculpture to be seen in the coiai at Wvnrard, bv R. M. .Johnston, Southern Hemisphere. In addition to F.S.S. this, the same generous benefactor has be- Botemy.—13. Tasmanian botany, by L. queathed to the Art Gallery several paint- Rodway. 14. The present and future ings of great beauty, and of high artistic l)riospect9 of timber in Tasmania, by Wm. merit. The Art Gallery has also been Heyn. 1'). The value of the timber in- further enriched in the same way by dustry in Tasmania, by A. O. Green'e. 16. munificent gifts, made by two ladies, the Practical forestry in Tasma-nia. bv A. daughters of a Tasmanian statesman, Mault. whose name holds a distinguished place in Astronomy.—17. Asbronomical observa- the history of this country. A liberal tions at the Cape by H. C. Kingsmill, grant of money by Parliament has enabled M.A. the Board of Trustees of the Museum, So- Geogranhical. —18. Notes on a, trip to upon which the Council of the Eoyal Barn Blutf. by .1. W. Beattie. 19. Ac- ciety are strongly represented, to complete count of a visit to British Columbia for the new wing of the Museum the purpose of introducing the sockeye building, to provide a more suit- exhibits, salmon i( )uchorhynchus jieikti) in Tas- able room for Tasmanian manian waters. b,y Alex. Morton. and to add a large room specially •
IV
appropriated to the exhibitiou of objects capitalist. Of no pait of the Common- and trophies, which will show to advan- wealth is this truer than of Tasmania. tage specimens of the produ-ts of the In the first place, Tasmania possesses, in Tasmauian mines and ot the timber and a superabundant degree, what is conspicu- cabinet woods found in the State. Photo- ously wanting in ail tiie other federated graphs, by the artistic hand of Mr. Beait- States, namely, water power. To this tie, in number about six hundred, repre- must be added the fact that, owing to senting tli« beautiful scenery of the peculiar configuration of the island, Tasmania, have been hung on this water power can be utilised at the the walls of this room. The Museum and mouth of the Derwent, on which Hobart, the Art Gallery now form institutions of the capital, is sittiated; in other words, which Tasmania maj' be justly proud, and this water power is available in conjunc- with which, as a means of illustrating and tion with one of the finest natural har- bringing into notice the re-ources, the at- bours in the world. To get some idea of tractions, and the progress of Tasmania, the natural features of tlie island Avhich and as a mean> of cultivating our taste bring about this resultant water power, for what is beautiful and elevating, we Tasmania may be compared to an inverted may well be satisfied. and slightly elongated basin. From the Mr. Vice-President and members of tlie very coast inwards the whole island i« council, ladies and gentlemen, —I think mountainous, and the^e mountain ranges you will concur with me in the gratifying ctilminate in a vast plateau in the mid- opinion which I venture to express, that lands, where the large annual rainfall is the Eoyal Society has, in co-operation stored in the natural reservoir of the lake with the Board of Trustees of the Museum, district. These mountain ranges, covered worked well during the past year, towards in many places with vast indigenous for- their combined purpose, of promoting ests, attract the atmospheric moisture science, art, and the progress of the coun- which the neighbouring continent of Aus- try. I trust the sessional year of the Koyal tralia, owing to its flat and monotonous Societ}-, which begins to-daj^, will, at its landscape, is unable to retain, and from close, show equally good results. this high plateau the water so a.ccumulat- ed descends by one or other of the natural Late Sir J. Agnew. courses to the coast line in a series of abrupt falls in a comparatively short Col. V. Legge, E.A., moved,—'That W. space, in a manner that seems almost in the further recognition of the valuable ideal for the best development of water services rendered by the late Sir James power. For instance, the Dee river, Agnew to the Royal Society of Tasmania which is the natural outlet of Lake Echo, and to the community generally as a starts at a barometrical altitude of 2,975 liberal patron of art and science, a sub- feet, and the total fall in the short -dis- committee of the council be appointed to tance of 27 miles is 2,675 feet. (N.B. — draw up an ohituar}' notice to be pub- The height of the Great Lake, 3,350 feet, lished in the Society's Transactions of and that of Lake St. Clair 2,500 feet above 1901; such committee to consist of the the sea.) Eeport by K. L. Eahbek, Mem- Hon. N. J. Brown, Mbssts. Thos. Ste- Dan. Assoc. C.E. An interesting profes- phens, M.A., E. M. Johnston, F.S.S., and sional report on the possibilities of the the mover.'' water power that is available from three Mr. A. G. Webster seconded the reso- of the central lakes, namely, Lake St. lution, which was agreed to. Clair, Lake Echo, and the Great Lake, has lately been presented to the Tasmanian Papers. Houses of Parliament. From this report it appears that the horse-power probably Grapitolites in Tasmania. available from these three lakes amounts Professor E. G. Hogg, M.A., read a pa- to a total of 82,000 actual horse-power, per by Mr. T. S. Hall, M.A., Melbourne, represented by 46,000 from Lake St, Clair, on '"'Discovery of Graptolites in Tas- 9,000 from Lake Echo, and 27,000 from the mania.'" Great Lake. — In this connection Mr. A brief discussion upon the paper fol- Eahbek says: "It must be borne in mind lowed, in which Mr. E. M. Johnston and that by obtaining the power as specified, I Professor Hogg took part. have not in any way prejudiced the irri- gation question; in fact, it has helped to solve it, inasmuch as I have made provi- ''Tasmania as a Manufacturing Centre."" sion for giving ample compensation water By Mr. E. E. Naghten B.A. for all irrigable lands for the parts of the rivers where water will be drawn for The advent of federation, and the power; and below the terminal power- consequent abolition of intercolonial stations all the water is available for duties, are bringing aibout new condi- any purpose, and will be forwarded in a tions, which are well worth the at- steady stream all the year round tention of the British manufacturer or In case it should be possible to make Ho- bart the manufacturiEg centie of Aus- direction, each way from Hobart, the tralia, amongst otlier reasons, on account southern part of the island is pre-emi- of her facilities in producing inexpensive nently suited for the establishment of and reliable power, the 82,0OU horse-power "power'' factories. From Hobart to Nor- at the different power-stations would be folk Bay on the one hand, and from Ho- reduced by about 30 j)er cent, namely, by bart to Franklin (situated in the Huon converting the mechanical energy into river) on the other, there is an uninter- electric force, by friction and loss on line rupted stretch of deep yet completely friom power-stations to Hobart, and by sheltered water, which combines the ad- reconverting the electric curi^ent into me- vantage of a gigantic natural dock with chanical energy ; and the power which the beauties of a lake. Along almost any could be distributed at Hobart would be, part of these shores land can be obtained say, 57.000 actual horse-power. At present at practically "prairie value,'' which there is not one thousand hoise-power would be eminently suitable for tjtie es- consumed in Hobart for tram service and tablishment of factoiies—that is to say. for lighting, but it is a true maxim that with deep water frontage, from which the '^supply creates demand,' and if an inex- manufactured article could be sent to the pensive and plentiful supply of electric several Australian States by the cheapest force was offered here the demand would of all means of tiansit, namely, water increase; perhaps, under such conditions, carriage. A greater contrast to the Hobart itself might absorb from 5.000 to manufacturing centres of the Yorkshire 7,000 hoi^e-power, and 50.000 horse-power woollen trade can hardly be imagined would be available for laige manufactur- than these sheltered bays, with their ing industries Judging by the forest-covered hills running almost down rapid strides which have been made dur- to the water's edge. At the prtsent time ing the last few years by electrical en- the Channel (as the long and sheltersd gineers and manufacturers, it is more passage between the Island of Bruni and than probable that within a few years it the mainland is termed) and the Huon will be practicable and profitable, to run river, whose wateis flow into this chan- all the Tasmanian railways, to supply nel's southern extremity,^ are chiefly light all over the island, to run all mo- known as a delightful roving-ground for tors as well in the mines as anywhere else tourists, and as a centre for the small within this island by electric power, de-^ fruit and apple trades. But it is at rived from Avater. but all this cannot be least within the bounds of leasonable accomplished to-day/^ The water power probability that within the next twenty meniioned in this report is that derivable years these beautiful bays and quiet imlets, from three only of the central lakes, and where the sea is calm, peaceful, and shel- does not by any means exhaust the power tered as a lake, may be resounding with available in ether parts of the island; the busy clang of machinery, though, for- but enough has. perhaps, been said to tunately, owing to the eneigy being de- give some idea of the vast quantity of rived from water power, there is no fear water available, and of its value for com- of the peculiar brightness of the atmos- mercial purposes. But water power is phere being marred by the volumes of only one factor in the new situation. Even smoke that cast a pall over the chief before federation, in spite of hostile manufacturing centres of Toikshiie. tariffs, the manufacture of woollens in There are at least three other industries Hobart and Launceston was a growing in- which must make enormous strides with, dustry. Partly owing to the climate, the advent of federation. It has already and partly owing to the excellence of the been incidentally mentioned that the val- water supply, the local manufactureTs leys of the Channel and the Huon are were able to do an increasing export trade, thie centres of the apple trade. In the even with the "protective" colony of Vic- past that industry has been seriously toria, and notwithstanding her 25 per handicapped by the protective tariffs of cent. duty. With the proper utilisation the other colonies, with the single excep- of water power (which has hitharto not tion of New South Wales, and the duties been turned to account), and with the thus imposed, added to such an appre- abolition of inter-colonial duties, there ciable extent to the price which had to be »eem good reasons for anticipating that paid by the consumer, that only the Tasmania will become a great manufactur- wealthier classes were able to afford) ing centre for woollens. Australia, the what, under these circumstances, became g-reat wool-producing country of the a luxurr. But the moment that these world, lies at her very doors, and for fis- hostile tariffs are removed the market cal purposes now forms part of the same expands automatically, and consists of community; and there seems little doubt four millions instead of about one mil- that, as a purchaser of the raw article, lion consumers; while the bulk of these the count}' of Yorkshire will in future four millions live in a climate which makes find a formidable competitor in the colouy the consumption of large quantities of of Tasmania. For at least fifty miles fruit almost imperative. Almost pre- in a south-westerly and a gouth-easterly cisely the same remarks apply to the tim- —
VI
her Miul the be°r trndes. The T.ismaiiian JiUpp. llf'ad and body rather compress- hlue gum (Eucalypuis globulus) and the ed, more or leys elongate; cleft of the stringy hark (Eucalyptus obliqiia) are mouth sligntiy oblique, with the lower amongst the must valuable luiidwoofl tim- jaw longest; eye lateral. Scales of fieis of the world, and. even iu the teeth moderate size, ciliated; lateral line in- of all almost prohibitive tariff, a certam terrupted. One dorsal with a few spine:^ quantity was always exjiorted to the luain- anteriorly; ventrals thoracic; the lower land. rhietly owing to the tad that the pectoral raj's branched; jaws with cardi- timber cotintry is iti (.-lose pioximity to form teeth, anterior with canines; vomer water carriage, and the liandiiiij;' and and palatine bones toothed. Praeopercu- transport were, in con-equence. compara- ium entire. Six bianclnostegals; the tively economical. Now, with the aboli- gili-membrane<; joined inferiorly; pseudo- tiou of the tariff, the deiuaiid must enor- oranchiae and air bladder pre- mously increase, and whtn on<'e a proper *«eut; pyloric appendages none. In- system (jf re-afforestatiou is introduced, dian Seas. Poit Darwin, Mac- Tasmania must gain enormou.-^iy and per- quarie Harbour, Ta?.mania. Pspudo- manently from her wealth ot iorest land^. chromi* lod'wavi K. M. .fohnston. D.3;26 Lastly, it has been found that, owing to 27. A. 3; 17. P. f7. L. lat. 50? L. tr. 11. Tlie the temperate character of the climate heigiii of the body is nearly five and the excellence ot the water suj ply. the times in the total length; the beer which is brewed iu Ta-mania is very length of the head four and superior to the article piodiued on the a half. In front of both jaws there are mainland. Even before rederation there markedly curved canine teeth, the three was a considerable export; and now that in the lower jaw the stronger; theie are, the wliole of Australia is open to the Tas- besides narrow bands of small canine^ manian brewer, there seems every reason reetii on jaws, vomer and palatine bones; to believe that the brewing industry ef no spines on the operculum. Dorsal and Australasia will inevitably gravitate to anal produced posteriorly; half of the the place where the climatic and gene- anterior portion of the former undevelop- ral conditions are favourable to ed or rudimentary, and enveloped for the the production of the most superior ar- most part in a somewhat thick (now) ticle. In a brief sketch of this descrip- opaque, skinn,y integument. The number tion it is impossible to do more tlian out- of spines on dorsal probably three, but line the new commercial tendencies which not detei mined satisfactorily. Diameter are at work in this part of Australasia, Oi the ej'e nearly equal to width of inter- but enough has, perhaps been said to orbital space, and greater than th© show that, under fedeiatlou, the island length of the snout. Colour in spirits a State of Tasmania is well woith the at- uniform darkish brown. This interesting tention of the British manufacturer and little fish is only about 3 6-8in. in the British capitalist. length, and is somewhat of thfr Discussion on the paper "was deferred general appearance of one of till the 12101 May. our common shore blennies. Mr. Bodway informs me that the fish was cap- Notes on a New Tasmanian Eish. tured by Mr. Hinsby, an enthusiastic col- lector, in. or near Macquarie Harbour. It is By Mr. K. M. .Johnston, E.S.S. to be hoped that he naay soon obtain a. few ^\v. Eodway, who takes a keen in- more specimens, in order to settle a few terest iu all branches of the nataral doubtful points in some of the characters. history of Tasmania, besides that of It is remarkable that, with the exception his loved science of botany, of which of a single member of the genus (P muel- he is now our chief local authority, has leri). described by K"lunz:nger from Port recently submitted for my examina- Darwin), this is the first miember of the tiou a small fish, preserved in spir- genus caught in Ausf^raiian waters. The its. Unfortunateh', there was ouly v^peclfic name is given by me in honour of one specimen obtained, and it is our own distinguished botanist, Mr. L. so shrivelled up that some of the ray B.odway. characters cannot be very exactly deter- Yores of Thanks. mined. This specially appues to the an- terior portion of the dorsal rays, which The Hon. Adye Don§»las (President of for nearly half the length of this fin are the Legislative Coancil) moved, and the rudimentary or uudeveiOped, and closely Hon. N. E. Lewii (Premier) seconded, a enveloped in a somewLiat thick and (nowi vote of thanks to the president, which opaque skin. However, tue principal Avas cordially passed. dental, scale, and other characters leave The President moved a vote of thanks no doubt in my mind as to its true generic to the leaders of the three papers, which position, viz.. the genus Pseudochromis was also agreed to. of the family Tiachinidae. The follow- Members and the ladies present then, ing contains a fuller description: —Family adjourned to the large room, where re- Trachinidae. Genus Pseudochromis. freshments were partaken of. vu
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE TASMA- Welsh sTate. It is lighted with eleven large skylights, all the glass being fixed NIA N MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY. in speci.; Hy prepared lead grooves, and no putty whatever is used in tiie g;azing, as Duiifig the Parliamentary session of is usually done, consequently there will 190U a vo'je of i4,O00 was passed for addi- be no fear of shrinkage and leakage. Ven- tions to the Tasmanian Mu-etim and Art tilation has been amply p.ovided, there Gallery, and :t was decicjed to entiast the being three large air piunp ventilators preparation of plans and specifications to lixed ill ihe root, which connect to large the f'liolic Works Dei)artmenc. galvani-'3d iron shafts, with ornamental The original design, prepared by the zinc ventilating centres fixnl in the ceil- late Mr. Hy. Hunter, in 1860, has been ad- ing. Fresh air is admitted through 13 hered to externally, as far as practicable, iaige air shafts .about 7f :. above the floor. but the interior has been alteied con- Tasmi-uiian blaekwood gur.L rails upon veiderabiy to bring it more up to date; turned olackwojcl newels aie fixed round when the original design was made iron the ga.leiy to protect tlie pictures from girders, fsteel joiits, etc., were not avail- injury. An ornamental staircase of spe- able, and columns were necessary to sup- cial design, made oat of Tasmanian port the upper floor. Now they have been blaekwood and Htion pine, gives the visi- dispensed with, and the whole floor space tor easy access from the troph}^ room to IS clear in the new buildiiis;'. the Arc. Gallery. Tenders for the work were invited in The open court betwte:i the old portion December. 1900, and Mr. W. H. Chever- of Museum and ne^v additions h s been ton's, at