Ill 



preventable and non-preventable. Indeed, if there be anything to fear 

 in our death-rate statistics, it is that anyone who comes to reside in 

 this city has the chance of one in five that he will prolong his life 

 to extreme old age. The rate of 12'81 per 1,000 persons living is 

 a remarkably low death-rate for any city in respect of all preventable 

 causes of death. It is lower than the average of the preceding 10 

 years by 26 per cent., and lower than that of the epidemic year by 

 S3 per cent. Statistics were quoted to show the favourable position 

 taken by Hobart as contrasted with 65 principal towns in Great Britain 

 and Australasia, and it was shown that its infantile mortality is by 

 far the lowest of all, as in all deaths from every preventable cause. 

 The official statistics quoted conclusi\7ely established the fact that 

 the present health condition of Hobart has never been so good, 

 and that it is pre-eminently one of the most healthy cities in the 

 world. Every care had been taken to make a particular and 

 thorough contrast of all the principal causes of preventable diseases, 

 and the results shown are so obvious that even the most ignorant or the 

 most sceptical who gives the matter any attention cannot fail to be con- 

 vinced by them, and that figures logically, carefully, and consistently 

 arranged are most eloqaent agents in support of truth is not in any 

 way affected by the vulgar platitude that ''figures may be made 

 to prove anything." The inhabitants of this beautiful city, instead 

 of unreasoning expressions of discontent with their present local 

 condition, should be indeed grateful to God that there are few, if 

 any, cities of the world that enjoy such highly favourable health con- 

 ditions and so genial a climate. Those who praiseworthily endeavour 

 to increape and maintain the good health of the city, by care and 

 improvement of all sanitary provisions, should not mar their good work 

 by givii g any encouragement to unwarranted alarmist statements re- 

 garding the good fame and health of the city we live in, and which, at 

 present, is the most healthy of any city he knew of. 



It was agreed to postpone discussion on the paper till next meeting. 



Mr. J. Douglas Ogilby, of Sydney, read a paper on "SomeTasma- 

 Tiian Fifhes." Having had occasion some time ago to compare certain 

 Tasmanian fishes with their New South Wales representatives, Mr. 

 Ogilby applied for assistance to Mr. Alex. Morton, curator of the Tas- 

 manian Museum, who, the writer of the paper said, *' with a com- 

 mendable promptitude and liberality which, with advantage to Australian 

 biology, might well be imitated, forwamed unreservedly a number of 

 the r- quired species," with the suggestion that Mr. Ogilby should 

 emborty the result of his researches in the form of a paper to the Royal 

 Society of Tasmania. This paper was the outcome of that suggestion, 

 and dedlt with several of the more interesting fishes received from Mr. 

 Morton special attention having been given, as requested, to the 

 Afugilidos, or mullet family. 



MICROSCOPICAL STUDIES OF TASMANIA^ 



EOCKS. 



By Me. W. H. Twelvetrees, F.G.S., Launceston. 



The writer referred to the delicate methods of modern microscopical 

 petrolo y having added greatly lo our knowledge of igneous rocks. The 

 €fifort^ of the writer in connection with the Launceston Microscopical 

 Club have been entered upon in the hope of tbro>ving additional light 

 upon tne genesis and int'mate structure of our eruptive rocks. It is 



