president's address. 15 



evolution. A brighter day for science has already dawned 

 within our University. The unfair influence exercised upon the 

 boy or girl leaving school and entering the University, b}^ the 

 scanty recognition granted to any study of scientific objects, has 

 been done away with. It is seen that it is possible in Australia 

 to train students well in science without forcing them to go to 

 Europe and become bound by European traditions. The force 

 of these traditions is seen in our University with its mediaival 

 architecture. The scientific departments of British Universities 

 are housed in badly lighted rooms because they have had to 

 accept the buildings handed to them from the Dark Ages. In 

 this country, it is ridiculous to build a laboratory for micro- 

 scopical study, in which many students have to work, and fit 

 it with narrow, arched Gothic windows because our forefathers 

 revered such building. In Great Britain tlie modern laboratory 

 is built to facilitate the investigation that is to take place within 

 it. Here we are told that artificial lighting is most suitable for 

 microscopical study, but are left to get what light we can from 

 long, narrow windows twenty to forty feet away from the mirrors 

 of the microscopes. 



May I remind you what a small company we are here in New 

 South Wales. We number among us practically all those dwell- 

 ing in this State who are engaged in increasing our knowledge 

 of the living objects of New South Wales. Surely we should aid 

 each other in learning of our flora and fauna. Some seem to 

 consider that our work consists in writing and publishing the 

 results of their own inquiries. The papers embodying these 

 observations and investigations appear in our Proceedings. They 

 may be read in the printed parts. There is another and quicker 

 method of imparting information. When a Member describes 

 to us his work, his personality adds interest to his description, 

 and we easily become acquainted with his results. A few well 

 chosen remarks on an exhibit will cause every one to examine 

 what is shown to them. We would all be pleased if every Member 

 attending our meetings would bring some object of interest to 

 himself and explain that object and its interest to his -fellow 

 Members. In this way we can ail acquire a better acquaintance 



