PROCEEDINGS, JUNE. 



JUNE. 



The monthly meeting of this Society was held on June 9, the Pre- 

 sident, His Excellency Sir R. G- C. Hamilton, K.C.B , presiding. 



PAPERS AND PROCEEDINGS. 



The Secretary laid on the table the published papers and proceed- 

 ings of the Society for the year 1890. 



ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



His Excellency said that at the last meeting of the Royal Society 

 a resolution was passed asking the Council to wait on Ministers to 

 ascertain whether they would be prepared to recommend Parliament 

 to vote a certain sum towards the expenses of the Antarctic 

 expedition under Baron Nordenskiold. Before, however, any action 

 was taken by the Council, an intimation was received from Ministers 

 that they had determined to ask Parliament for £300 towards the pro- 

 posed expedition. He telegraphed that fact to Baron Von Mueller, and 

 received the following telegram in reply : — " Grateful for support 

 Tismanian Government to Nordenskiold expedition. Thi3 greatly 

 strengthens the whole cause." He did not know how far the matter 

 had progressed since, but thought it satisfactory that in Tasmania 

 everything had been done that could be expected in this matter. 



AUSTRALASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. 



His Excellency thought it desirable that a progress report should 

 be made by Mr. Morton in reference to the arrangements for the 

 approaching meeting of the Australasian Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science. 



Mr. Morton said that he had sent out 950 circulars to members of 

 the Association and others throughout Australia requesting them to 

 notify whether they intended to be present, although he had not 

 received one quarter of the replies expected, already 150 had notified 

 their intention of being present at the meeting to be held in Hobart on 

 January 7 next. Papers had been promised by able contributors in 

 the following sections : — Astronomy, chemistry, geology, biology, 

 geography, economic and social science, anthropology, literature, 

 and fine arts. He regretted to intimate that Sir Wm. McGregor, 

 Governor of British New Guinea, had written stating that it was 

 impossible for him to leave his work there early next year in order 

 to attend and occupy the position of president of the geographical 

 section, Mr. Morton further stated that liberal concessions in the 

 matter of travelling rates had been granted to members, and he had 

 no doubt that the result would be a large influx of visitors. At the 

 meetings of the Association in New Zealand last year, large numbers 

 of local residents became members of the Association, and he hoped a 

 similar result would take place here, as by becoming members they 

 would have the privilege of attending the different sections. 



His Excellency said : I think we may be satisfied with the progress 

 made as detailed by Mr. Morton. I may say that I also had a 

 letter from Sir William McGregor similar to that received by Mr. 

 Morton, but I thought the matter of so great importance, that I wrote 

 to him again. I am sure it will be very agreeable to this Society to 

 learn that I have succeeded in getting Mr. Giflen, the eminent 



