PROCEEDINGS, JUNE. IX 



statistician and political economist, to agree to pay me a visit during 

 the session of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of 

 Science to be held here in January next, and to read a paper before the 

 Association. Mr. Giffen, as many of you know, is one of the highest 

 living authorities on economic science, and I am sure that his presence 

 en this occasion will be greatly appreciated by the members of the 

 Association, and that it will give an impetus to the study of this 

 science, which will bear fruit throughout all the Australasian colonies. 

 (Applause.) 



The Secretary apologised for the absence of Mr. R. M. Johnston, 

 owing to indisposition, and read the following remarks, prepared by 

 that gentleman in connection with this subject : — It is pleasing to 

 observe with what enthusiasm His Excellency Sir Robert Hamilton, 

 the president-elect of the Australasian Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science, is endeavouring to make this, the fourth meeting, 

 taking place in Hobart in January next, one of the most successful 

 of the series yet held. The Association, mainly owing to the instru- 

 mentality of its present permanent general secretary, Prof. Liversidge, 

 was founded in the year 1886, and has since held three very success- 

 ful meetings ; the first in Sydney, in January, 1S88 ; the second in 

 Melbourne, in January, 1890 ; the third in Christchurch, New 

 Zealand, in January of the present year. The Association follows 

 exactly the lines of the British Association, and like that Association 

 its objects are — To give a stronger impulse and a more systematic 

 direction to scientific enquiry ; to promote the intercourse of those 

 who cultivate science in different parts of the Australasian colonies 

 with one another and with foreign philosophers ; to obtain a more 

 general attention to the objects of science and a removal of any dis- 

 advantages of a public kind which may impede its progress Science 

 in Australasia has already received a great impulse from these yearly 

 gatherings, the direct and indirect results of which will have a 

 most important bearing upon the intellectual, social, and material 

 progress of these colonies. It is evident from what has been disclosed 

 at the last meeting of the Royal Society that His Excellency Sir Robert 

 Hamilton does not intend that one of the express objects of the Associa- 

 tion should remain a barren phrase, viz.: — " To promote the intercourse 

 of those who cultivate cience in different parts of the Australasian 

 colonies with one another and with foreign philosophers." Already he 

 has, through the energetic General Secretary (Mr. A. Morton, F.L.S.), 

 received the assurance that at its next meeting in Hobart will be 

 assembled one of the largest gatherings of scientific men of Australasia 

 which has yet been brought together, including nearly all the most 

 prominent names in various branches of science, art, and philosophy ; 

 and he has also endeavoured to throw additional lustre upon this 

 gathering by cordially inviting as his guests for the occasion several 

 of the most illustrious men of science in the Mother Country. One of 

 these, Professor Huxley, has written a most cordial letter regretting 

 that the state of his health alone prevents him from accepting His 

 Excellency's hospitality and denying himself the pleasure it would 

 afford him to re-visit Tasmania, of which he has still many pleasant 

 recollections. It is gratifying, however, to know that he has 

 received the assurance that Dr. Giffen, LL.D., now created a C.B., 

 one of the most illustrious economists and statisticians of Europe, 

 is to become bis guest, and will be present to take part in the work 

 of the Association. In economic science the name of Dr. Robert Giffen 

 stands in the very first rank of the most illustrious names in Europe, 

 and there is no authority in Europe who at the present moment is 

 held in greater respect, and whose writings exert a deeper and wider 

 influence on the great political and social economic problems which at 

 present disturb the industrial relations of nearly all civilised countries. 



