Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria. 413 



The Society held a very successful Conversazione at the 

 Athenaeum Hall on 1st September. 



During the year five members, one country member and five 

 associates were elected, and three members and two country 

 members resigned. 



Dr. A. R. C. Selwyn, one of the founders of the Society, and 

 an honorary member, died in Canada, after a long life passed in 

 the promotion of scientific knowledge. 



The Council is glad to record that a member of the Society, 

 Mr. A. W. Howitt, F.G.S., is the recipient of the first award of 

 the Mueller Medal, by the Australasian Association for the 

 Advancement of Science. 



The " Proceedings " of the S(jciety, New Serie.s, Vol. XV., 

 Part II. and Vol. XVI., Part I., were published during the 

 year. 



The Council regrets to have to announce that the Government 

 grant has been further reduced, and now amounts to only ,£50. 

 The Council would urge members and associates to endeavour to 

 increase the membership roll, and thus supply the means of 

 publishing the papers that are continually being brought before 

 them. The Society's Library of about 6000 scientific periodicals 

 has been acquired solely by exchange, and contains volumes not 

 found in any other library in the State. There are many 

 publications the Council would like to subscribe to, but cannot 

 do so for lack of funds. The questions of binding and shelving 

 are pressing ones, but in this and in other ways, the state of the 

 Society's finances prevents the Council from maintaining the 

 property of the Society in a proper condition. 



During the year the Library was increased by the addition of 

 1283 volumes and parts. New shelving to the extent of about 

 100 feet has been added, but is nearly all occupied, and as there 

 is now no further room for shelving in either the library itself, or 

 in the council room, the cost of any additional shelving will be 

 considerable. 



The Council would again urge upon members the imperative 

 necessity of increasing the income of the Society in what, at 

 present, appears to be the only possible way, namely, by 

 additions to our roll of members and associates. 



