PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 3 



Union Government shewed its appreciation in such a tangible 

 form! 



It is clearly laid down that the first object of the x^ssociation 

 is " To give a stronger impulse and a more systematic direction 

 to scientific enquiry." Inspired by this object, the local Com- 

 mittee at Johannesburg, shortly after its formation in May, 1902, 

 promoted a petition to Lord Milner, then High Commissioner for 

 South Africa and Governor of the Transvaal, urging the estab- 

 lishment of an Observatory. As a result, the Transvaal Obser- 

 vatory and Meteorological Department was organised in 1903 ; 

 in May, 1904, it was in full working order, and it was formally 

 opened in January, 1905. At this date, owing to the state of the 

 Transvaal finances, the Government was unwilling to spend 

 money on astronomy, but before Union was consummated a small 

 deputation of our members interviewed the Hon. Mr. Rissik, 

 at that time Transvaal Minister of Lands, and he conceded an 

 astronomical wing to the Observatory, and promised funds for 

 the provision of the most powerful refracting telescope in the 

 Southern Hemisphere. Unfortunately, the difficulties in the 

 manufacture of the object glass, and latterly the great war, have 

 delayed the completion of this telescope, but all the necessary 

 funds have been allocated for it. After Union took place the 

 (Tovemment decided that the Transvaal Meteorological Depart- 

 ment should be enlarged so as to embrace the whole of the 

 Union, and that its headcpiarters should be at Pretoria, whilst 

 the Transvaal Observatory should be renamed the Union Obser- 

 vatory, and devote its attention more especially to the astronomi- 

 cal side. This Association can point with pride to its work in 

 connection with the Union Observatory, which it can legiti- 

 mately claim as its ofi^spring, and equally can it claim the re- 

 flected glory of the scientific work and discoveries of that institu- 

 tion. During the career of the Transvaal Meteorological 

 Department weather forecasts were issued daily, for the first 

 time in South Africa, and this service has now become a per- 

 manent one. 



The Association continued to progress materially to a 

 marked extent. On the last day of the first conference at Cape 

 town the membership stood at 765, including 41 associate mem- 

 bers, while there was a balance at the bank of ^£300. a very credit- 

 able position for such a young Society. 



The next annual meeting, held at Johannesburg in April. 

 1904, under the presidency of Sir Charles Metcalfe, proved a 

 pronounced success. The total membership advanced to 1,073; 

 44 papers and addresses, many of great scientific and technical 

 importance, were read ; and through the generosity of the Trans- 

 vaal Government, which voted £400 for the purpose, and the 

 extraordinary liberality of the Mining Houses of Johannesburg, 

 which subscribed over £900, the Association was able to print all 

 these papers. 



In the Constitution of the Association provision is made for 

 the appointment of research com.mittees, which have been a 



D 



