PRESIDENTS AnnKKSS. I 3 



as the collection in the Capetown Museum, for ajiart from its 

 types, it has an unusually lars^e number of representative speci- 

 mens, and those in unusually perfect condition." 



The matter was broujjht to the attention of the Minister of 

 the Interior at a time when there was >ome possibility of pre- 

 ventin<i^ the exportation of irrei)laceable fossils of great natiorial 

 interest, and pressure was brouc^ht to bear i)rivately on parlia- 

 mentarians of influence, but nothing has been done. It is now too 

 late to deal with the specimens referred to. but it is to be hoped 

 that the Government will realise the imp.irtance of retaining in 

 the future such relics for South Africa. 



An event of considerable importance was the grant in ujo6 

 of £500 from the Witwatersrand Council of Edtication for the 

 purpose of University extension lectures, the administration of 

 this, and subseciuent grants being left unconditionally in the 

 hands of the Johannesburg members of Council. With this 

 generous assistance, series of lectures were delivered at the 

 principal towns of South A'frica during the four years from 

 1907 to 1910 by eminent authorities from Cireat Britain. It is 

 of interest to note that the lecturer for Tyo8 is now President 

 of the Board of Educati<in in thf' new British War Cabinet. 

 Unfc^rtunately. for various reasons, these lectures were dis- 

 continued in igio. 



The Association has always been keenly interested in Uni- 

 versity education. At the Kimberley meeting in njo6. the ques- 

 tion was discussed at a joint meeting of sections, and it is pro- 

 posed at this Conference to raise the (|uestion of University 

 Education, with special reference to a memorandum on the 

 subject which has been prepared by the W'itwatersrand members. 



In 1907 the Council made provision for the formation of 

 local branches, by which interest might be more fully main- 

 tained in the intervals between the annual sessions. Some of 

 the branches have been fairly active, and have arranged for 

 local papers and addresses. biU, on the whole, the scheme has 

 not met with much success. .\ few years ag(i the Johannes- 

 burg members of Council aureed to liold a conversazione in 

 honour of any distinguished scientist who might visit the Rand, 

 and in this way Sir Almroth Wright and Col. ( iorgas and his 

 staff have been honoured. 



In order to arouse a greater interest in science amongst 

 students, the Council decided, in 1906. to inaugurate a prize 

 fund. Sir Hamilton Goold-.Adams, the President for that year, 

 generously provided a die, and live (ioold-.\dams medals are 

 now awardecl annually on the results of the Senior Certificate 

 and Matriculation Examinations hi science subjects. 



At the hrst meeting of the Association. Professor Hahn 

 drew attention to the neglect of science teaching in schools. " It 

 is hardly credible," he said. " but nevertheless it is a fact, 

 that the Universit\- regulations allow this neglect of the studv 



