18 president's address. 



endowed by Mr. David Syme, of Melbourne; with a request that 

 publicity may be given to the project, as the Prize will be open 

 to all persons resident in Australia during five of the preceding 

 seven years, whether Members of the Melbourne University or 

 not, with the exception of Professors and Heads of Govern- 

 ment Departments. The Prize will be known us the "David 

 Syme Research Prize"; it will consist of a medal and of the 

 sum of one hundred pounds, and it will be offered for the first 

 time in March, 1906, and annually thereafter. It will be 

 awarded to the Candidate who, in the opinion of the Examiners, 

 shall submit the best Thesis based upon original work in Biology, 

 Chemistry, Geolog}^ or Natural Philosophy, preference being 

 t^iven to original research connected with the material and Indus- 

 trial development of Australia, other things being equal. The 

 endowment of the prize is provided for by Mr. Syme's munifi- 

 cent gift of the Slim of £3000 to the University of Melbourne. 

 It will be the most valuable prize of the kind available in Aus- 

 tralia, and should afford a very desirable stimulus to the prose- 

 cution of original investigations in this part of the world. 



One of the drawbacks of Australia's geographical isolation is 

 a tendency in some directions to lag behind in the race of pro- 

 gress through lack of knowledge of what is transpiring or has 

 transpired abroad; and so to fail to profit by the experience, or 

 to reach the ideals of older but distant countries. An example 

 seems to be offered just now by the neighbouring State of Queens- 

 land. On the plea of economy and the necessity for retrench- 

 ment, the Government has taken action with regard to the 

 Queensland Museum which has not only resulted in a shrinkage 

 of its resources, but which may also bring about the compulsory 

 retirement of the Curator, Mr. C. W. De Vis, who has been so 

 long and so creditably connected with it. The welfare of the 

 Queensland Museum is thus menaced, and in times which are 

 critical for the well-being of the fauna and flora. Such a policy 

 is in reality a retrograde step, opposed to the principles and 

 practice of what is known as the modern museum idea. The 

 legislators of Queensland have felt called upon to adopt this policy 



