i8 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



present, the various views of the originators of the proposed Congress^ 

 as well as those of the other members of the Committee, could be 

 best brought into accord by the formation of an Association — some- 

 what on the lines of the British Association — meeting once a year, 

 now at one centre of South Africa now at another, and its work should 

 be divided into sections devoted to different subjects. Thus, whilst 

 those interested in any particular department of Science could give 

 attendance chiefly to their own special section, all would have an 

 opportunity of meeting socially and enjoying that advantage of inter- 

 change of ideas which is so helpful to general scientific progress. 



Finally, on the 12th September. 1901, a general meeting was held 

 in the Hall of the Education Department. Cape Town, at which 

 the following resolution was passed : 



" That this meeting approves, and hereby confirms, the forma- 

 tion of a South African Association for the Advancement 

 of Science, as far as possible on the lines of the British 

 Association." 



A Committee was appointed to draw up a draft constitution, and 

 the results of its finally revised and approved labours are in the 

 hands of members. 



When in London in 1900. 1 was requested to attend a meeting of 

 Council of the British Association for the purpose of discussing the 

 possibility of holding one of their meetings in South Africa. It 

 had seemed to the founders of our new Society that to bring about 

 such a visit would in itself be a great object. Accordinglv, so soon as 

 peace was declared, steps were taken to ascertain the earliest date 

 for which an invitation from the Cape could be entertained. It 

 appeared that the arrangements for the meetings of the British 

 Association had been made as far as 1904 inclusive, and we now 

 know that the meeting for that }ear will be held at Cambridge 

 under the Presidency of the Right Hon. Arthur Balfour, Prime 

 Minister of England. 



On approaching Sir Gordon Sprigg as to what facilities couM be 

 offered to induce the British Association to accept an invitation to 

 visit the Cape in 1905, I received in reply the following sympathetic 

 and encouraging letter : 



Prime Minister's Office. 



Cape Town, 



i6th August, 1902. 

 Sir,— 



I have submitted to the Prime Minister \our letter of the 15th 

 instant, addressed to me. with reference to the proposed invitation to 

 the British Association to visit South Africa in 1905, and I am 

 directed to inform you in reply that the Cape Government agrees as. 

 follows, viz. : — 



I. That free railway passes be granted over the Cape Railway 

 system for all officials of the British Association and a 

 limited number of invited "-uests. 



