2 PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



No better evidence of the Society's activity is needed than is 

 furnished by the four Parts of the Proceedings published and 

 distributed during the year — Part 4 for 1902, and Parts 1-3 for 

 1903. These Parts represent a volume of 948 pages, illustrated 

 with 52 plates. But the Proceedings for 1903, comprising 

 thirty-three papers, will, on completion, represent a volume of 

 slightly over 1000 pages, with 50 plates, some of them folding 

 maps, which in respect of cost mean more than an equivalent 

 number of these. An annual volume of such dimensions is not 

 only above the average size, but, except under very favourable 

 conditions of income, it makes an undesirable approach to or even 

 exceeds the extreme limit of our financial resources in this'direc- 

 tion; and accordingly the Hon. Treasurer will presently have 

 occasion to tell you that, for the first time for some years, our 

 expenditure has exceeded our income, the financial year ending 

 with a debit balance of £23. 



The drainage arrangements of the Society's premises are about 

 to be remodelled, consequent upon the availability of the new low- 

 level sewerage system recently completed in this neighbourhood. 

 This will necessitate an expenditure of an unusual and 

 special character. In addition, circumstances which cannot 

 be controlled, will shortly require a change in the mode 

 of transmission of an important section of our exchanges to 

 Societies and Institutions abroad; and this will entail an 

 additional annual expense which must be allowed for. For 

 these reasons, therefore, during the current year it will be 

 necessary to exercise an extra check upon our publishing enter- 

 prise. It is desirable that attention should be drawn to these 

 matters because we are beginning the 3'ear with a number of 

 papers (including some held over from last year) sufficient to keep 

 the Society busy for about one-half the Session, or say until the 

 August meeting — a state of things without precedent. This 

 announcement may cause the Hon. Treasurer some little anxiety; 

 and if so, it will be necessary to make provision for its alleviation : 

 but on every other ground this evidence of unwonted scientific 

 activity is extremely gratifying. It is true that we commence 



