president's address. 541 



As nine ordinary mouthly meetings now make u]) a session, the 

 Council has decided that the Proceedings for the year shall, under 

 ordinary circumstances, and as far as possible, take the form of 

 three bi-monthly and one quarterly part. It is hoped, therefore, 

 that as soon as the arrears into which the issue of the Proceedings 

 has of late fallen, firstly, through the necessity for carrying on 

 simultaneously for about eighteen months the publication of both 

 the Memorial Yolume and the Proceedings, and .secondly, through 

 the subsequent setting aside of the latter to allow of the comple- 

 tion and issue of the former, have been worked off, that the 

 majority of the Parts will in future bo issued at shorter intervals 

 than has been possible in the past, but otherwise with the same 

 commendable regularity, and with as little unavoidable delay as 

 possible. 



The attendance at the meetings, all things considered, has 

 been quite up to the average. The Ocean-street Tramway, to be 

 opened for traffic in the course of the next few months, will make 

 the Society's Hall much more conveniently accessible than 

 foi merly to the bulk of the members ; and it is not too much to 

 expect that the usefulness and prospects of the Society will be 

 })roportionally benefited in consequence. 



Eleven new members and two corresponding members have 

 been elected. It will be remembered that a year ago a new rule 

 rel.iting to the amount of subscription was passed, and which for 

 a number of members takes effect from the commencement of 

 1894:. It may be well to remind the members of the Society that 

 in common with Governments, Corporations, and individuals, the 

 Society has to cope with a reduced income by reason of the wide- 

 spread commercial depression now prevailing in the colonies ; that 

 chiefly due to the same cause, and partly due to the passing away 

 of old members, there has been a falling off in point of numbers, 

 so that at present the number of effective members on the books 

 is smaller than usual ; and that though the course adopted will no 

 doubt at first, but it is hoped only temporarily, result in some loss 

 of revenue, it was felt that, in view of Sir William Macleay's 

 liberality to the Society, it was a wise course to take in the 



