1 A 2 Australasian Ornithologists' Union. [7th "jan 



very satisfactory, seconded by Mr. F. R. Godfrey, and carried 

 unanimously. 



The hon. secretary then read two letters of interest from His 

 Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, and one from the Vice- 

 Admiral, in reply to a request from the Council of the Union 

 that members might be allowed to proceed by a vessel of the 

 fleet to Royal Companies' Islands for exploration purposes. The 

 Admiral has kindly instructed the officers of the discovery 

 (relieving) vessels Morning and Terra Nova, when going south, 

 to keep a look-out, and report the exact position of the islands, 

 if found. 



Colonel Legge thought it most satisfactory that the 

 Admiralty should give such a reply. It was a matter of great 

 importance to geographical science that these islands should 

 be visited. Messrs. A. J. Campbell and D. Le Souef also spoke 

 on the subject, the latter expressing the opinion that the 

 Admiralty would be glad to get information re the islands, but 

 wanted to get it from our side. 



The balance-sheet for the financial year 1902-3 was read 

 by Mr. A. Mattingley, who since Mr. R. Hall's departure for 

 Siberia had been acting as hon. treasurer. It showed a credit 

 balance of £39 3s. 6d. in the general fund and of £10 17s. 8d. 

 in the coloured figure fund. 



Mr. F. R. Godfrey said he had great pleasure in moving the 

 adoption of the statement, and thought the treasurer and 

 Council of the Union should be congratulated on the remarkably 

 satisfactory result, considering the excellent way in which 

 The Emu had been issued. 



Mr. A. Morton seconded the motion. The Emu was most 

 interesting. 



Colonel Legge endorsed the remarks of the preceding speakers. 

 He had always a great desire that the Union should not do 

 merely provincial work. One main thing to be kept in view 

 was the issue of coloured plates. ' As an old member of the 

 B.O.U. he knew that Wolff and Keulemans had done much to 

 forward the work. 



The motion was carried, after a brief discussion as to charges 

 for the plate already published, during which it was mentioned 

 that a refund had been made owing to an item having been 

 paid twice in error. 



president's address. 



In reading his address the retiring president (Col. Legge) 

 welcomed the visitors to Hobart. With increased steamer 

 communication a larger attendance from Australia would be 

 possible. He thought that the Aust. O.U. would prove a 

 worthy scion of the B.O.U. The address was as follows : — 



In heartily welcoming to Tasmania the members of the Aust. 

 O.U. who are attending this third Congress of what is now one 



