president's address. 135 



a state of things which — with the matter held over from 1894 

 still for some time Hkely to occupy attention — even under favour- 

 a])Ie circumstances must continue for another year before we can 

 hope to become quite free from the toils of arrears. The issue of 

 five Parts instead of the usual four per annum means of course 

 extra payments, and introduces a disturbing element into both the 

 publishing arrangements and the finances for the year. Under 

 these circumstances, therefore, it has become highly desirable that 

 by the beginning of next year existing arrears should be cleared 

 off in order that the Society may again revert to its normal 

 condition; even though if necessary this should involve an unusual 

 discrimination in accepting matter for publication during the 

 coming Session. 



By the operation of Rule ix. the Members' Roll has been 

 depleted to the extent of forty-five names of Members whose 

 annual subscriptions have continued in arrears. Some at least of 

 these, it may be hoped, will take advantage of the last clause of 

 Rule ix., and by the discharge of arrears again qualify themselves 

 for Membership. 



During the year five new Members were elected, two forwarded 

 their resignations, and we have to lament the death of one — Dr. 

 Craig Dixson — who was a prominent member of the Medical 

 Profession in Sydney, and like his brother Dr. Thomas Dixson, to 

 whose services on our Council we are all much indebted, was 

 always a consistent supporter of our Society. For the reasons 

 given above, and more particularly through the continued wide- 

 spread commercial depression — ^though for this the Council is 

 desirous of making all possible allowance — the number of effective 

 Members on the Roll is at present smaller than it has been for 

 some years — a fact which I commend to the consideration of the 

 Members generally, in the hope that^ such a state of affairs may be 

 only of a temporaiy character. 



In the hope of encouraging a larger attendance of Members at 

 the Monthly Meetings the Council early in the year decided as an 

 experiment to hold the Meetings from June to Noveml^er in town, 

 at the University Chambers, kindly placed at our disposal by 



