president's address. 857 



of a roof found for us by the liberality of Mr. Macleay. 

 These quarters, though convenient and comfortable enough, were 

 unfortunately situated upon the noisiest portion of the Tramway, 

 the vicinity of which is as disadvantageous for study as its 

 accommodation is serviceable to general traffic. Finally therefore 

 Mr. Macleay carried his course of benefaction to the Society a 

 long stage further, by building for us upon his own land an 

 excellently planned and commodious Home, containing a hall, 

 with library attached, in which our meetings are now held, a 

 spacious laboratory, and two large rooms for committees and 

 other purposes. How roomy, airy and light this abode of Science 

 is, and how pleasant its surroundings, all who are now present, 

 or were Mr. Macleay's guests on the day when he made over this 

 noble donation for the benefit of generations to come, can readily 

 testify. Of that day an account has been prepared which will 

 serve as a slight record of his unceasing effort for the good of the 

 Society, and of our hearty and serious appreciation of his 

 generosity. It is my pleasing duty to add that Mr. Macleay has 

 consented to have a portrait of himself taken in marble, which 

 shall be placed in this hall as a conspicuous and enduring 

 memorial of our sincere and frank gratitude. 



There are one or two epochs in our brief history which may 

 fairly claim our consideration for a moment, exhibiting as they 

 do the extraordinary growth which has been made since the days 

 of our infancy and cradlehood. Only yesterday we celebrated 

 the birthday of the Australian Nation, and honoured with 

 pardonable exultation the vigoi'ous adolescence of this Britain 

 of the Pacific, for which we discern in her early achievements an 

 •earnest of a future, not only of domestic prosperity, but also, and 

 more emphatically, of Imperial significance, attended with results 

 which will influence widely and deeply the ages that are to come, 

 and forward the long-hoped-for and long-delayed approach of the 

 commonwealth of humanity. To-d£l,y our theme is humbler. 

 Yet this Society also shares in the development of the greater 

 Society in which its roots are implanted, out of whose natural 

 fertility it draws its vital strength, and to which in due course it 



