PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. 9 



In last year's address, I referred to the Council's responsibility 

 in the matter of the re-investment of the large sum of money com- 

 prised in the Society's major security, which matured in August, 

 1912. Anticipating the Hon. Treasurer's financial statement, I 

 may state briefly, that, when the time came, the Council was able 

 to arrange for a renewal of the great part of the loan on mortgage, 

 for another year, at a somewhat higher rate; while satisfactory 

 investments for the balance were entered into for periods of three 

 or five years, at more satisfactory rates than we have had for some 

 years past. 



In the early part of the year, Mr. Henry Deane, resigned from 

 the Council, in consequence of frequent absences through profes- 

 sional engagements, resulting finally in his removal to Melbourne; 

 and at the end of the year, Professor J. T. Wilson also resigned, in 

 consequence of his contemplated absence in Europe during this 

 year. Both Mr. Deane and Professor Wilson have rendered signal 

 service to the Society, as Members of the Council, as well as occu- 

 pants of the Presidential Chair — Mr. Deane in 1895 and 1896, Pro- 

 fessor Wilson in 1897 and 1898, in important periods in the 

 Society's history; so that the Council parts, with both of them, 

 with great regret. We may hope to welcome Professor Wilson 

 back early next year. But Mr. Deane's removal to Melbourne in 

 connection with the construction of the Transcontinental Railway, 

 deprives us of an enthusiastic member keenly interested in botany 

 and allied matters, whose presence and contributions added much 

 to the interest of the Meetings for a number of years, until his 

 official duties, entailing frequent absences from Sydney, inter- 

 rupted these, as well as his investigations upon fossil plants, which 

 began so auspiciously. Dr. J. B. Cleland was elected by the Coun- 

 cil, under the provisions of Rule xiii., to fill Mr. Deane's place for 

 the remainder of the session ; while a successor to Professor Wilson 

 will be elected at this Meeting, under the new Rules. 



A very important matter carried out during the year, has been 

 the revision of the section of the Society's Rules relating to elec- 

 tions to the Council, and some cognate matters. The existing 

 Rules came into force fifteen years ago, at a time when the Society 



