Address by Sir David Gill. 35 



-capacity to undertake researches which involve comparatively small 

 expenditure ; or. when larger sums are involved, to give sound advice 

 to Government on the expenditure of public money for scientific 

 purposes. 



The question of Geodetic and Topographic Survey in South 

 Africa generally is one that 1 propose to deal with in greater detail 

 in a Report to be communicated during the pre.sent meeting 

 to Section C. It may be sufficient to state now, in a few words, the 

 •crying need for greater progress in this department. 



Good maps are essential for good administration in [)eace as 

 as well as in war. The want of any reliable maps during the late 

 war sufficiently proves my point in the latter respect. 



In the Cape Colony and Xatal the foundations have been well 

 laid, the principal triangulation being complete. Of secondary 

 triangulation a little beginning has been made, but only here and 

 there is a trace to be found of sound topographic work. Thousands 

 and thousands of pounds have been spent in surveys of a feeble, 

 unconnected kind in the Cape Peninsula alone — far more money than 

 enough to have mapped it thoroughly on a large scale. It is high 

 time that the work was undertaken for the whole country, in an 

 •economical and systematic way, by a well organized department, 

 spending at least ;^25,ooo a year until the work is finished. 



A proper Survey Department is being organized for the Trans- 

 vaal and Orange River Colony, which, it is to be hoped, will shew 

 an example to the rest of South Africa. 



In Rhodesia a sound basis of geodetic triangles has been carried 

 through a part of the country, and the British South Africa Company 

 has provided in an enlightened spirit for the extension of the work 

 along the 30th Meridian from the Zambesi to Lake Tanganyika, 

 a work of great practical importance as well as of high .scientific 

 value. We welcome as a distinguished guest here to-night Dr. 

 Rubin, who will sail from Cape Town in a few days for Chinde, as 

 leader of the Zambesi-Tanganyika ex])edition. His last work was 

 upon the measurement of an Arc of Meridian in Spitzbergen. extend- 

 ing to within 10 degrees of the North Pole. In North Ea.stern 

 Rhodesia he will encounter a very different climate, but I am sure 

 we all trust that he will emerge from it with no less success than that 

 Avhich crowned his labours in the Far North. 



There are many other points on which one would wish to dwell. 



For example, the successful researches of Dr. Gilchrist ; he has 

 not only made valuable contributions to marine biology, but has 

 proved the practically inexhaustible character of our fishing grounds. 

 This is a fact which our men of business have been too slow to recog- 

 nize, but which, with reasonable enterprise in the establishment of a 

 fleet of trawlers with cold storage, should prove not only a source of 

 wealth but afford an abundant supply of fish at prices which would 

 put that article of food once more within reach of the man of small 

 means. 



The results of the Geological Survey deserve sjiecial mention, 

 .as also do the entomological researches of Peringuey and Purcell, the 



