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BRANCH REPORTS 



NORTHERN BRANCH. 

 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1923. 



In these days of financial stress, and more or less un- 

 stable social conditions, it is satisfactory to be able to re- 

 port that a scientific society is at least holding its own, and 

 is on firm p.round, with room for optimism as regards its 

 future prospects. The Northern Branch has, unfortunately, 

 lost one of its most valuable members in Dr. L. Grey Thomp- 

 son, who died at Launceston on the 24th of October of this 

 year. His unselfish devotion to the cause of science, and 

 to the advancement of his fellow men, combined with his 

 genial nature and broad outlook, endeared him to all, and his 

 place will not be readily filled. One member has retired 

 owing to absence from the State, and two new members have 

 been elected. 



On the 20th of June the following committee was 

 elected: — Chairman, the Honourable Tasman Shields; mem- 

 bers, Messrs. H. H. Scott, J. E. Heritage, R. O. M. Miller, 



F, Smithies, J. R. Forward, W. D. Reid, F. J. Heyward. and 



G. H. Halligan, L.S.. F.G.S., Honorary Secretary and 

 Treasurer. 



Four papers were read, and two lectures delivered dur- 

 ing the session, as follows: — 



31st May— LBcture by Mr. Clive E. Lord, F.L.S., Director 

 of the Tasmanian Museum, on "The Economic Aspects of 

 the Tasmanian Fauna." 



12th July— Paper by Mr. G. W. Waterhouse on "The 

 Settlement of the North-West Coast of Tasmania by the 

 Van Diemen's Land Co." 



2ijth July— Paper by Mr. H. H. Scott on "Additional 

 Notes on the Emus of King Island and Tasmania." 



28th August— Paper by Mr. L. Rodway, C.M.G., Gov- 

 ernment Botanist, on "Plant Pathology, with special refer- 

 ence to Fungus Diseases." 



l.'Sth October— Lecture by Mr. G. H. Halligan, L.S., 

 F.G.S., on "The Doings of the Recent Pan-Pacific Congress 

 at Melbourne and Sydney." 



12th November — Paper by Mr. W. H. Reid, A.I.M.M., 

 Lond., A.C.I., Aust., on "Notes on Sampling and the Utilisa- 

 tion of Coal in the Pulverised Form." 



