ADDRESS 

 By 



Theodore Reunert, M.Iust.C.E., 

 President. 



The founding of the South African Association for the 

 Advancement of Science four years ago, in a time of great and almost 

 universal despondency, was an act of faith which has been amply 

 justified by events. A few of its more sanguine promoters ventured 

 to predict that the new Association would supply a want which had 

 long been felt of some means of bringing together men and women 

 from all parts of the country who were keenly interested in its 

 higher destinies : in science, in education, in every kind of intel- 

 lectual as distinct from merely material progress : that it would 

 lead to friendships which would not otherwise have been formed ; 

 that it would serve as a useful channel of communication between 

 Governments or Local Authorities on the one hand, and the various 

 Scientific Societies, besides many disinterested, isolated workers in 

 different branches of investigation and research on the other hand; 

 that it would afford an opportunity for the discussion of many 

 subjects of national importance before a wider audience than had 

 hitherto been possible ; and that it would gradually enlist the 

 sympathies of the whole intelligence of South Africa. 



Sanguine as these predictions were, they have proved to be not 

 over-sanguine. They have been largely fulfilled already, and are 

 in a fair way towards complete fulfilment. We have held three 

 Annual General Meetings, each more successful than the last, each 

 more largely attended, and more fruitful in the number and range 

 of papers presented. We have published three volumes of respect- 

 able dimensions, each of some 500 or 600 pages, two of these 

 containing the proceedings of our first two meetings, and an extra 

 volume on " Science in South Africa," which was specially prepared 

 this year for the use of our guests. It is gratifying in 

 this connection to be able to acknowledge the encouragement 

 and material assistance given us by the several South 

 African Governments. When Sir David Gill, our first President, 

 delivered his inaugural address in Capetown, in April, 1903, the 

 Governor of the Cape Colony graced the meeting by his presence, 

 and the Government of that Colony generously agreed to defray 



