BY A.LEX. MORTON. 123 



possibility of a manufacture of paper from the Esparto grass, 

 which, it was believed, would grow well in Tasmania, drew a 

 discussion on the subject, and Mr. James Barnard took great 

 pains to set before the Society all the available information on 

 the subject, including plans and cost of machinery. 



Political economy came under discussion for the first time 

 in 1872, when Mr. E. C. Nowell read a paper on the subject 

 with special reference to the unemployed. For the first time 

 the colony was experiencing the fact that there is such a thing 

 as a labour problem, and it has not left us since. Occasionally 

 papers were read on the beetroot industry, and all the 

 scientific and practical information necessary to start a beet 

 factory are to be found in the records of the society; but the 

 production of sugar from beetroot is not yet one of our 

 established industries. 



The name of the Rev. J. E. Tenison Woods appears for the 

 first time in the reports as a contributor inl874, but the reverend 

 geologist had then been a corresponding member for m;iny 

 years. His great services to the people of Australia generally 

 and his devotion to science made him a contributor whose 

 papefs were valued, and whose personality was honoured in 

 all the scientific societies on this sid*^ of the equator, white 

 his name and that of the Rev. W. B. Clarke were familiar as 

 household words in all j)arts of the world. In 1872 the 

 Council acquired a large wooden building, which was I think 

 used as a store, and all the specimens, for which there was no 

 room in the Museum, were placed there From this time 

 onward the proceedings of the Society are familiar to many 

 of the present members of the Society that a recapitulation of 

 them would be unnecessary. 



The obligations under which the Society lies to Mr. T. 

 Stephens, Mr. R. M. Johnston, and the many memVieis now 

 here who were good friends of science since 1875 are known 

 to all present, and their recapitulation would only seem 

 fulsome, but an exception to this rule may 1)3 jiermitted ia 

 the case of the Hon. Sir James Agnew, whose connection with 

 the Society dates from 1840, and who was the able and liberal 

 hon. sec. of the Society from about 1861, almost to the pre- 

 sent time, with the exception of a visit to England, when Mr. 

 James Barnard well filled the gap until his return. From 

 Sir Eardley Wilmot, who was a most interested President of 

 the Society, to the present, tlie Royal Society has been 

 fortunate in having as Governors of Tasmania, so many who 

 were keenly alive to the advantages ot a scientific society as. 

 an instrument for the elevation of the people. It has been 

 well said that many tastes and one hobby make the condition 

 of greatest happiness. To all who will, the Royal Society 

 offers that choice of tastes and hobbies which will be of the 



