XII, PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, 



Weather lUireau, gives the following very pretty illustration, of 

 how a simple mechanical act has its relation to physical 

 science : — " Everywhere one is confronted with the laws offeree. 

 If you strike a smart blow upon the head of a cold chisel, and 

 make a cut into a piece of soft iron, you are doing one of the 

 simplest mechanical operations, and yet you are awakening a 

 long series of reactions that invade nearly every branch of 

 physical science. First, the muscles respond to the eye and the 

 will, the hammer moves with great acceleration, and strikes 

 straight and hard, the energy of the blow comes from the 

 chemical transformation going on within the workman's body, 

 suggesting problems that belong to the profoundest depths of 

 Biology. Secondly, the stroke of the hammer calls forth a clear 

 and cheerful sound from the head of the chisel, a musical ring, 

 with all its problems in acoustics. Thirdly, the hammer, the 

 sieel chisel, the soft iron and the chips, become warm and hot, 

 under repeated blows, suggesting problems in Thermo Dynamics, 

 radiation and conduction of heat. Fourthly, the edge of the 

 hard chisel becomes dull, but a deep gash is cut in the soft iron, 

 eventually the edge of the chisel breaks, all of w'hich results are 

 explained by the study of the science of elasticity, as applied to 

 the flow of solids and the exhaustion of metals. Fifthly, 

 a better chisel is picked out and the hammering goes 

 on all day without harm to the tool, proving that its 

 chemical and physical properties differ from the one that is 

 easily broken. If the anvil be of stone, and both it and hammer 

 be insulated and connected with an electrometer, every stroke 

 would be seen to produce electricity." Thus we see in such a 

 simple operation the manifold and intricate connection between 

 the sciences and arts, so we see how all practice has its theory, 

 and the better man is he who takes, as it were, both into his 

 confidence, and runs them harmoniously together. It has been 

 said, and it i> ii truth incapable of being gainsaid, that science 

 must be joiiit-d t.. practice in the advancing competition of the 

 world, in order that a nation may retain the strength and energy 

 of manhood. It is certain that the prosperity of a country de- 

 pends mainly on the extent and variety of its natural products, 

 and the manner in which they are utilised : Such being the 

 case, what a great future awaits this colony of Queensland, a 

 country which contains, one might say, the whole list of elements 

 known to science, awaiting development by enterprise and capital, 



