680 pkesident's address. 



supported by the Legislature to enable tbein to reproduce these 

 useful and splendid exhibits. 



The Department of Mines contained all the fossils, minerals, 

 and rocks collected by the Mining Department at the instance 

 of Mr. 0. S. Wilkinson, G-overnment Geologist, and also the 

 collection of the late distinguished Geologist, the Eevd. W. B. 

 Clarke, which, with his maps and library cost the Government 

 £7,000. It is said that this geological collection was the most 

 complete in Australia, and its value has been roughly estimated 

 at £50,000. With the exception of some specimens, kept in an 

 iron safe, of various precious stones and of gold, the whole of 

 this extensive collection, together with all original papers and 

 documents was burnt. It is true that a great portion of the 

 fossils and minerals now lost can in time be supplied by similar 

 exhibits, but many maps, books, and manuscripts, which were 

 simply priceless, can never be replaced. 



On the day of this ' calamitous event, the Council issued 

 a circular to each of the various societies with whom 

 we correspond, expressing our hope that any irregularity which 

 may occur in our correspondence may be kindly attributed to the 

 true cause, that of the loss of all our papers and effects, and 

 not to any remissness on the part of the Council or its Officers. 



I feel quite sure that the time has arrived when the literature 

 of Natural History, considered in its most extensive sense, of this 

 and the neighbouring colonies should be published in one general 

 uniform and illustrated series. If such a work were compiled 

 and issued in yearly parts, I think that the sale would amply 

 recoup the cost, that it would be a great source of pleasure to 

 the general public who are yearly taking more interest in Natural 

 History, and that it would enable those who wish to make a study of 

 this subject, to know what has already been done in this 

 branch of science so far as our Australian Flora and Fauna are 

 concerned. The works in which our Botany and Natural History 

 were originally described are so scarce, so costly and so difficult 



