president's address, ix. 



Sir Normand MacLaurin, one of Sydney's most distinguished 

 citizens, one of the leaders of the medical profession, an active 

 Member of the Legislature, Chancellor of the University of 

 Sydney since 1896, a welcomed accession to the directorate of 

 several important corporate bodies, passed to his rest on 24th 

 August, in his seventy-ninth year. As he playfully reminded us 

 at the Meeting held in June, 1913, when he kindly attended to 

 unveil a portrait of the late Professor J. W. Stephens, he was 

 the "Father" of the Society. A preliminary meeting to consider 

 the question of starting a new Scientific Society in Sydney was 

 held on October 13th, 1874, and at this meeting the advisability 

 was affirmed. At a second meeting held on j^ovember 5tlj, the 

 name of the Society and the Rules were settled. The first meet- 

 ing for scientific business was held on January 13th, 1875. All 

 those who enrolled themselves between the second and last of 

 the dates mentioned, constituted the Original or Foundation- 

 Members, of whom tliere were eighty-six. First on the list 

 stands the name of Dr. AUeyne, enrolled, with ten others, on 

 November 11th, 1871. The forty-fourth name is that of Dr. H. 

 N. MacLaurin, enrolled December 8th, 1874. Of the forty-three 

 whose names precede Sir Normand's, only one survives, but was 

 not a Member after 1878. Of the forty-two whose names follow, 

 only one of the survivors has retained his membership may he 

 long be spared to us. Sir Normand's interest in the Society 

 grew out of his friendship with those who were most actively 

 concerned with its establishment, and from a desire to support a 

 deserving institution such as has a recognised place among the 

 educational agencies of every enlightened country, We may be 

 glad that so interesting a link between present and past was 

 spared to us so long; and that, less than two years ago, we had 

 the pleasure of welcoming him on the occasion of a special visit, 

 and of being stimulated by his genial presence, and by his 

 impressive words. 



Mr. W. J. Clunies Ross, who joined the Society in 1904, died 

 on 7th November, in his sixty-fourth year. He had almost com- 

 pleted thirty years' service in the Technical Education Branch 

 of the Department of Public Instruction in this State, first as 



