Address by Sir David Gill. 31 



University has c(jnferred on these men the honorary degree of Doctor 

 ■of Science, the highest recognitirm of their labours which it is in its 

 power to bestow. 



Full)-, therefore, as one recognises the invaluable work of men 

 like Roberts and Bolus, and the still more invaluable example which 

 they give, it is impossible to overlook the fact that it must be mainly 

 on the professional scientist that we have to rely for the increase of 

 •our workers in the higher departments of research. 



Reference to the papers in the Philosophical Transactions of 

 the Royal Society and the like will shew that even in the United 

 Kingdom this is the case. 



It is, therefore, a most hopeful sign of progress that the South 

 African College has of late made a great stride by way of strengthen- 

 ing its staff. Within the past few months there have been added 

 Chairs of Zoology, Botany, and History. The departments of 

 Mathematics and Chemistry have been strengthened by additional 

 assistants. A Chair of Engineering is about to be created, and the 

 subjects of Logic and English Literature, formerly in the hands 

 of one Professor, are now divided into two Chairs. 



Steps are being taken at the Victoria College, Stellenbosch, 

 with a view to the creation of a new Chair in Zoology, and a separate 

 Chair of Geology (instead of connecting the latter as at present 

 "with Chemistry) ; it is also proposed to raise the Lectureship in 

 Botany to a full Professorship. Of St. Andrew's College at Graham's 

 Town one hears that there is a possibility of its being remodelled into 

 a University-College that will provide for efficient higher Science 

 teaching in the Eastern Province. 



In addition to the Professors of University Colleges we have 

 as professional scientific men in the Cape Colony the officers of 

 the Museums, of the Geological Survey, and of the Bacteriological 

 Institute, the Government Biologist with his Trawler and Marine 

 Laboratory, the Government Botanist, the Entomologist, the Analyst, 

 the Secretary of the Meteorological Commission, the Conservator 

 oi Forests, and the Chief Government Veterinarv Surgeon. 



In the Transvaal Ave have the Departments of the Ordnance 

 Surrey, the Geological Survey, of the Museum and Zoological Gar- 

 den, of the Government Analyst, the Government Bacteriologist, 

 the Director of the Meteorological Department, and corresponding 

 officers of similar but less numerous departments in Xatal, the Orange 

 Hiver Colony, and Rhodesia. 



Many of these men and the otiicers of their staffs are doing 

 good original scientific work — all of them should do it. 



I am unable to enumerate the many who are engaged in the 

 utilization of Science as in railway construction, mechanical 

 engineering, and in the design and erection of large machinery for 

 •waterworks, irrigation works, works for electric lighting and electric 

 power transmission, rock-drilling, water-boring, hoists, and all the 

 appliances connected with large mining operations. The rapidly 

 growing discoveries of mineral wealth point to an immense industrial 

 development in the near future. 



