PllOCEEDINGS, NOVEMBEE. XXXIX 



hope it will be remedied next session. It cannot bo held that our 

 position in respect of sanitary matters is such, notwithstanding our 

 great natural advantages, as to make them subjects of indiirurence to 

 us. It is satisfactory to find that the attention given by this society to 

 the necessity for preventing the wholesale slaughter of the mutton bird 

 and the opossum has borne fruit, and that Acts have been passed by 

 Parliament this year which afford them some protection. It may be 

 remembered that at the closing meeting of last session a very interesting 

 paper was read by Mr Laurie, showing the necessity of scientific and 

 technical education. Since then two technical schools have been estab- 

 lished, the one in Launcestou, and the other in Hobart, whicli are 

 attended by about 150 pupils, and are doing good work. In the matter 

 of art, we are endeavouring to secure an exhibition in Hobart of a 

 collection of pictures from the British Artists' Society about to be 

 exhibited in Sydney. The subject was brought under our notice by the 

 Hon. W. H. Burgess on his return from England, and a committee has 

 been appointed to communicate with that society on the subject. There 

 is almost no limit to the useful work which a society like this, having 

 for its object the advancement of science and investigations of a physical 

 character, can undertake, and I hope that next session wo may have 

 papers on some of the subjects to which I have referred, respecting 

 v/hich we have had no contributions this year. In a small community 

 like ours, the minute subdivision of subjects which properly exists in 

 large centres like London would be out of place and practically 

 impossible. There you have separate societies for every important 

 branch of investigation. Here we combine all, and we do more, for we 

 endeavour, as far as possible, to make our meetings attractive by a 

 judicious mixture of subjects so that they are not all merely food for 

 scientists but are of general interest as well. Such papers for instance 

 as those read by Sir Thomas Brady, Mr. Seager, and Mr. Johnston, on 

 the acclimatisation of the salmonidaj in Tasmanian waters were not alone 

 of interest and value to the scientist and naturalist. The Siibject of 

 acclimatisation is of great interest to us all, an interest not confined to 

 Tasmania, for numerous articles have appeared in the English press 

 commenting upon the good work done in this direction by Tasmania. 

 We have still much to learn, not only as regards the effects of acclimati- 

 sation on the salmonid;e, but also on the trees and shrubs, and flower 

 and vegetable life which has been transplanted here. This opens a wide 

 and interesting field for observers, and I trust we may have the results 

 of their observations submitted to this Society in its future sessions. 

 In such matters, too, as a native shrub like the wattle tree there is room 

 for interesting observation. The wattle tree bark is now so important 

 an article of commerce that it would be very desirable to know whethsr 

 it is necessary in Tasmania, as is done in some of the other colonics, to 

 re-plant trees to take the place of those stripped of their bark, or 

 whether they reproduce themselves sufficiently without planting. This 

 year has witnessed the establishment of an Australasian Association for 

 the Advancement of Science based on the same lines as the ikitish 

 Association. It does not interfere with the ground occupied by any of 

 the existing scientific societies in the various colonies, although its 

 objects are somewhat similar. Its objects are to give a stronger 

 impulse, and a more systematic direction to scientific inquiry, to promote 

 the intercourse of those who cultivate science in different parts of the 

 British Empire with one another and with foreign philosophers ; to 

 obtain more general attention to the objects of science, aud a removal 

 of any disadvantages of a public kind wliich may impede its progress. 

 This is a direction in which no dilliculties ought to stand in the way of 

 federation, and we have given this association our warmest support. 

 It will no doubt have the etFcct of attracting more attention to the 

 scientific work turned out in the colonies than I fear it baa hitherto 



