Proceedings of the Rayed Society of Victoria. 1 83 



Mr. EusDEN read a paper by Robert Abbott, Esq., C.E., 

 on " The Maintenance of Energy." 



The President remarked that there was one point in 

 the paper with which he was not quite satisfied, viz., the 

 mode in which the length of time necessary for the 

 production of the features of the earth's surface and its 

 flora and fauna was arrived at by the biologists and 

 geologists. The physicists had certain definite data to go 

 upon, but on the biological side he failed to see where 

 were the data for such definite conclusions. Mr. Abbott 

 did not seem to have given them a great deal that was 

 new on the subject dealt with in the paper. 



Mr. Frazer thought the title of the paper incorrect ; 

 that there was nothing in it to show how energy was 

 maintained. 



Professor Masson said that Mr. Abbott asked them to 

 follow him in assumptions, as, for example, that the 

 primordial matter was below possibly the absolute zero 

 of temperatui'e — that it was without molecular motion — 

 which required much more justification than he had given 

 for them. 



The President read a paper by Mr. Newton C. Jennings, 

 on " Irrigation and Water Supply in the Australian 

 Colonies." 



Mr. Fenton did not see anything in the paper open to 

 discussion, and remarked on the peculiar fluctuation in 

 the rainfall of the colony. 



Mr. F. A. Campbell thought that everything in the 

 paper might be taken as a matter of course. Though the 

 average rainfall of the colony was ample for all wants, yet 

 in certain parts of the colony Avhere irrigation was most 

 necessary, it was small. Search should be made to ascertain 

 where water existed below the surface, so that it might be 

 tapped. 



The President remarked that Mr. Jennings could hardly 

 be aware of how much work had already been done. All 

 the moi-e important sti'eams in the northern watershed of 

 the colony were being gauged very carefully, and the 

 results recorded and printed. He did not agree with 

 Mr. Jennings' statement that there was no question as to 

 the right of Government to intercept the rainfall on its 

 own land. 



