ADDRESS 



]W 



ALEXANDER WILLIAM ROBERTS, D.Sc, 

 F.R.A.S., F.R.S.E, 



PRESIDENT. 



I am deeply conscious of the grave and singular honour that 

 has been conferred upon me, in taking me out of the circum- 

 stances and thoughts of ordinary school life and work, though 

 occupation most profoundly interesting and absorbing, and plac- 

 ing me for a brief space in the notable position of president of 

 this Association, an Association of Scientific workers and 

 thinkers drawn from all parts of South Africa. 



And I am the more conscious of the honour that has fallen 

 to me when I give proper place to the knowledge that this is the 

 first occasion when our Association has met outside the boun- 

 daries of the British Dominion. 



For ten successive years we have met annually in one or other 

 of the leading towns of British South Africa. This year we have 

 ventured afield into the beautiful colonial capital of our friendly 

 neighbour. Our friendly neighbour ! For it is to be had in 

 remembrance — indeed, the truth is a common-place, and requires 

 no setting of mine to ensure its acceptance, that the people in 



