yill. I'KESIDENTIAL AODRKSS. 



The adoption of the Report was moved by Mr. A. J. Turner, 

 seconded by Mr. F. Wbitteron, and carried. 



The President then delivered the following address : — 



PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, JANUARY, inm-. 



i'JUO. 



Ladies and Gentx^emkn, — 



It has been your good fortune for some years past to listen 

 to Presidential Addresses, delivered by men of ability and 

 learning, to which I make no claim — and it was with the 

 greatest reluctance that I allowed myself to be placed in the 

 Presidential Chair, knowing that there were many members of 

 this Society better fitted for such a responsible position, so that 

 the members have only themselves to blame, for any deficiencies 

 and short-comings on my part during my term of office. 

 However, it is satisfactory to learn by the Council's report, 

 that our roll of membership has largely increased, but I regret 

 to say that the active members are decreasing gradually, by 

 death and other causes, so I take this opportunity of appealing 

 to the members to throw more interest into the Society, by 

 coming forward and filling those places. Our financial position 

 is good, and last but not least, the Society is comfortably 

 housed in suitable quarters, for which the members are largely 

 indebted to the Council of the Technical College. I also take 

 this opportunity of thanking the members of our Council for 

 the able assistance and advice received from them during the past 

 year. 



The selection of a subject for my retiring address this 

 evening, I can assure you, was no easy task, because on looking 

 back for some past years, I find that your past Presidents have 

 all given addresses on special subjects, particularly in their own 

 professional line, and which they were well qualified to handle. 

 I, havins; no special subject, have therefore, to ask your kind 

 indulgence this evening, if I should somewhat weary you. As I 

 have said before, for some years past your Presidential addresses 

 have heeu on special subjects, diverting from the time-honoured 

 custom of reviewing the progress of science, in its various 

 branches, and as the world has made such marvellous progress 

 and development of late, I felt that I could not but revert a^ain 

 to the old custom, by making some brief allusions to the 

 advancement and progress of science. 



