XXIV PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



the following remarks, therefore, it must be understood that the 

 term climate is used in its widest sense to signify not only the 

 temperature, rainfall, and prevailing winds, but also the effects 

 of such on the soil and vegetation. These , all influence the 

 fauna of a country as well as the flora, and have a marked efiect 

 on acclimatised animals and their descendants. It is true that 

 man may mitigate the effects of climate by employing the 

 resources of science and art ; nevertheless, such efiects must, in 

 the course of time, become manifest. 



CUSTOMS AND DEESS. 

 European colonists, more especially those from the British 

 Isles, are very slow to adapt themselves to the conditions of the 

 country they may be transplated to. The habits and customs of 

 their native land are adhered to with a tenacity w^hich does 

 more credit to the heart than to the head. The time-honoured 

 hot mid-day meal is faithfully eaten under the burning sun of 

 the tropics, and the clothing worn in the hottest time of the 

 year differs but little from that worn in the coolest. A black 

 silk hat and a black cloth coat are considered indispensable at 

 all society functions of an exalted nature, no matter how hot 

 the day may be, and in this respect, one may note of late years 

 a reversion to European customs in our southern cities. When 

 I first visited Melbourne in 1863, a black silk hat was not to be 

 seen in the streets from one week's end to the other, and now 

 it is as essential a mark of respectibility as in London. Sydney 

 is rapidly following Melbourne in this particular, and there is 

 strong evidence that Brisbane will soon awake to a due sense of 

 its importance, and don the black bell-topper on Sundays and 

 holidays, as well as on the occasion of a reception at Govern- 

 ment House, and kindred functions. But possibly this is only 

 an illustration of that imitativeness with which man is so largely 

 endowed, and not an instance of reversion of . type. Much 

 discomfort would be avoided, and better general health follow a 

 study of the climatic conditions under which the colonist finds 

 himself, and an attempt to conform to such as far as possible. 

 The subject of dress and food are not sufficiently considered, if 

 considered at all, and tiie consequence is that the climate is 

 abused and held responsible for much that is caused by ignorance 



