8 PltKSIDENT S ADDRESS. 



and completed the task of cornpiliii<( a census of its flora. His 

 observations on the birds were partially embodied in a paper 

 entitled "Australian Birds: Useful and Noxious," read at the 

 " Conference of Fruit-growers and Vine-growers " held in Sydney 

 in June, 1890, and published in the Report thereof (p. 245). 

 This interesting article concludes with some emphatic remarks 

 upon the unrestricted and inconsiderate acclimatisation of 

 undesirable alien species of plants and animals — a subject upon 

 which, as a community, even to this day, we are so slow to learn 

 wisdom. At the monthly meeting in July, in formally announc- 

 ing his decease, I referred to Dr. Norton's long arid honourable 

 connection with the Society, of which he was the oldest surviving 

 original member; to the Society's indebtedness to him for valuable 

 services rendered in various official capacities; and to his 

 unwavering support to and interest in the Society nnd its welfare. 

 Dr. Norton was an observer rather than a writer; but the needs 

 of a Society like this are so varied that the co-operation of 

 members with similar qualifications, and with such ripe experience 

 and general knowledge, is a most important source of strength. 



The three extraordinary vacancies in the Council, due to the 

 removal of Mr. Waite and Dr. Hill from the State, and the 

 decease of Dr. Norton, were filled by the Council's election of 

 Messrs. A. G. Hamilton, R. H. Cambage and Professor J. T. 

 Wilson, in the manner prescribed by the Act of Incorporation, 

 as announced in due course to the Members. In accordance with 

 the provisions of Rule xvi., these gentlemen are included among 

 the six retiring Members of Council for the year. More recently 

 the retirement of Mr. Pedley, and the decease of Mr, Grant ha^ e 

 caused two additional vacancies which remain to be filled on the 

 present occasion, as Members have already been notified by 

 circular. 



Six (nominally seven) Ordinary Members, and one Associate 

 Member were elected during the year, so that our numbers 

 remain practically stationary. The thirty-seven papers read 

 before the Society have been published, Part 4 of the Proceedings 

 for 1903, containing the last instalment of them, being now ready 



