ISngal Bamt^ of Tasmania. 



ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



The Session of 1910 was commenced by the holding of a 

 conversazione on the evening of ^larch 31, under the presidency 

 of His Excellency Sir Harry Barron. K.C.M.G., C.V.O. Among 

 the visitors present were Eady Barron. Rear-Admiral Ijichi 

 and the other leading officers of the Japanese fleet visiting 

 Hobart. ^ 



The proceedings were opened by an address from His Excel- 

 lency the President. In the course of his remarks Sir Harry 

 Barron said that for some years past it had been customary 

 for the President to deliver a lengthy address at the first meeting 

 of the Session for the transaction of ordinary business, but a 

 recent alteration of the Rules had made it practicable for him 

 to speak to those present in a less formal manner on the objects 

 and work of the Society. A satisfactory increase in membership 

 of the Royal Society had been made during the year, consider- 

 ing that the community was a comparatively small one. The 

 Society had been founded through the agency of Sir John 

 Franklin 70 years ago, and had steadily progressed ever since. 

 Many very interesting papers on scientific subjects had been 

 read during the year, one especially which dealt with the life 

 and manners of the Tasmanian aborigines, being of great in- 

 terest and value in a country like Tasmania, which had very 

 little history. He mignt call attention to the provision in their 

 Rules for the establishment of Sections for the purpose of en- 

 couraging the study of particular branches of science. It ap- 

 peared that the Section of Medical Science was the only one 

 now m operation. It was certainly desirable that Members 

 should take up the work in which they were interested in this 

 special manner, and better results would be thus obtained. His 

 Excellency also referred to the necessity of research work being 

 done in regard to the minerals and the soil generally, and also 

 the necessity of re-afiforestation. which was a matter of great im- 

 portance. No doubt this was a new country, but it would be 

 easy to predict what would happen if they did not take some 

 steps to save the trees. 



Lantern slides illustrating the geology and natural history 

 of Tasmania were exhibited, and descriptions given by Dr. 

 Noetling. Mr. T. Stephens. :^Ir. R. M. Johnston. Mr. A. L. 

 Butler, and Mr. J. W. Beattie. Mr T. T. Flynn exhibited and 

 explained some slides illustrating infusorial animalcules. 



A number of objects of scientific interest were on view dur- 

 ing the evening. Dr. E. J. Ireland showed some photographs 

 of Samoan scenery; Mr. T. Stephens exhibited a fine specimen 



