20 president's address. 



with a population of over half a million; and having the examples 

 and standards set by the other Australian States to follow. 



The Aborigines are becoming sophisticated, and are steadily 

 losing ground. Droughts, bush fires, and civilisation with its 

 concomitants are })ringing about profound changes in a flora 

 and fauna of which portions are of tropical richness and excep- 

 tional interest. What prospect is there of rescuing anything 

 considerable from the general wreckage, in the absence of an 

 adequate Museum staff, alert and vigilant, and read}^ to enlist 

 all available enthusiasts as allies ^ If the only public Museum 

 of a State misses, by neglect, the opportunity of being the best 

 and most satisfactory exponent extant of the natural and other 

 productions of that particular State, which come Avithin its 

 scope, then the Museum as well as the State must be regarded 

 as being in rather a serious condition. Brown Goode, indeed, 

 asserts that museums provide the test of the status of civilised 

 communities. He says: — "The degree of civilisation to which 

 any nation, city, or province has attained is best shown by the 

 character of its public museums and the liberality with which 

 they are maintained " {op. cit. p. 240). 



It is earnestly to be hoped, therefore, that the efforts of the 

 scientific men of Brisbane to secure the co-operation of enlightened 

 men in Queensland and in the other States, and, thus reinforced, 

 to memorialise the Premier of Queensland upon the subject of 

 Mr. De Vis' retention in office may be successful. Also that the 

 Government may be led to realise that any action which results 

 in starving the State Museum and cramping its usefulness is the 

 poorest sort of economy, since it is discounting the future upon 

 terms which cannot but prove to be ruinous, from the scientific 

 standpoint. Mr. De Yis' knowledge of the natural history of 

 Queensland, and his unrivalled experience are of so special a 

 character that they recommend him to the most favourable con- 

 sideration when the question of retirement at the statutory age 

 of 60 presents itself. Scientific men are not very numerous 

 in a young State, and therefore they need to be encouraged and 

 not lightly to be put aside. 



In response to a request from the Consul for Denmark, who 

 has been moved to take action under instructions from the 



