OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 419 



opportunities of observation, they are of all others the best 

 <q ualified for such investigations. 



Gentlemen, — I must now conclude. I dare say I shall be 

 charged with inviting your attention to a subject in itself un- 

 inviting, but to the man of Science no inquiry can be distaste- 

 ful which may lead to such grand results as I have pointed out, 

 and surely to the medical man the acquirement of a knowledge 

 of the source and cause of disease must be a nobler object of 

 a mbition than the highest skill in the empirical treatment of 

 symptoms. 



The Honorary Treasurer, Mr. H. H. B. Bradley, read a report 

 on the financial condition of the Society, showing that the gross 

 receipts for 1876 amounted to £120 6s., which, together with 

 previous balances, gave a total of £221 10s. The payments for 

 1876 amounted to £125 10s., leaving a balance on 31st December 

 of £95 lis. lOd. Including the subscriptions payable on 1st 

 January, 1877, there were due for subscriptions, sales of copies of 

 Transactions, &c, £262 Is. There were no outstanding liabilities, 

 and the roll of members numbered 130. 



The following were elected office-bearers and members of 

 Council for the year 1877 :— 



W. J. Stephens, M.A., President. 



Sir William Macarthur, Vice-President. 



J. Stackhouse, R.N"., Honorary Secretary. 



H. H. B. Bradley, Honorary Treasurer. 



Council: H. G. Alleyne, M.D.; P. Mackay, William Macleay, 

 F.L.S.; E. P. Ramsay, F.L.S.; C. S. Wilkinson, F.G.S., Govern- 

 ment Geologist; and R. D. Ward, M.A. 



Honorary Members: Baron Ferdinand Von Mueller, C.M.G., 

 M. and Ph. D., F.RS., &c, and Count Castlenau, Consul-General 

 of France in Melbourne, were elected the first honorary members 

 of the Society. 



