PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. < 



tributions to a knowledge of the geology of New South AVales are numerous and 

 important; and all he knows is not yet on record. Mr. Steel has been associated 

 for many years with an institution which provides one of our necessary food- 

 stuffs, and, at the same time, is notable for its appreciation of the importance of 

 the application of science to industry, and for its regard for the status and wel-; 

 tare of its scientific officers. Mr. Musson has been a member of the scientific 

 staff of the Hawkesbury Agricultural College ever since its foundation in 1891. 

 Mr. Hamihon has been connected with the Department of Education for many 

 years, and latterly a member of the staff of the Teachers' Training College. 

 Professor Baldwin Spencer, by his professorial work, his zoological and anthro- 

 pological contributions, and the scientific records of his travels in Australian out- 

 of-the-way places, has deservedly come to the front as one of Australia's repre- 

 sentative men of science. Those of the younger generation who are coining on, 

 nowadays more than ever, need the encouragement, the help, and a share of the 

 fruit of the long experience of veterans such as these; and we may be sure that 

 it will not be withheld when the opportunity offers. The Society is fortunate 

 in having three of them still on the Council. 



To Mr. E. C. Andrews, who has been appointed to succeed Mr. Carne, I 

 would offer, on behalf of ^itlembers, our cordial congi-aiulations, not only on his 

 appointmen*^^ to the important position of Government Creologist, but also on his 

 ha\ing such worthy predecessors to follow, in carrying on the development of tlie 

 geological knowledge of New South Wales. 



To Dr. .J. B. Cleland. who has recently been appointed to the newly estab- 

 lished Chair of Pathology in the University of Adelaide, our congratulations are 

 due. We regret that his removal to another State deprives us of an active 

 Member, and also a Member of Council. But we know that his <iualiflcatious 

 include much 'valuable experience, and that his appointment to Adelaide means 

 an opportunity of undertaking effective work in a new field. We wish tliat he 

 may be very successful. 



To Dr. T. Storie Dixson, too, one of our senior Members, I would like to 

 offer, on behalf of Members, our congratulations on the recent announcement in 

 the newspapers, that His Gracious Majesty the Iving. as Patron, has conferred 

 upon him the honour of Ivnight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem 

 in England, in recognition of his long and enthusiastic services m connection with 

 the St. John Ambulance Brigade, of which he is Commissioner in New South 

 Wales . 



A change of printers became necessary during the year, and I am glad to 

 say that our new printer is giving satisfaction. The cost of printing of every 

 kind, however, has increased considerably. Taking advantage of the opportunity 

 of making fresh arrangements, the Council has decided to enlarge the size of the 

 Proceeding's, from demy octavo to crown quarto, retaining the same size type, 

 commencing with the volume for 1920. This will not only give more room for 

 illustrations, but will simplify the work of supphdng the reprints, which, by 

 arrangement with the University, are furnished to Linnean ]\Iacleay Fellows, who 

 carry out their research-work in the University laboratories, under the Regulations 

 for Research Students. These, hitherto, have had to be specially printed. 



The issue of the Monthly Abstracts, which was temporarily suspended, under 

 war-conditions, after July, 1916, was resumed after the Jleeting in October last, 

 and will be generally appreciated, because it keeiis distant Members and Societies 

 in touch with what the Society is doing in the intervals bet'^een the issues of 



