In moving the adoption of the Report of the Council and 

 Financial Statement the Hon. A. Norton, M.L.A., said it was 

 a matter for congratulation that they had had the meetings so 

 well attended during the year, and that so many valuable papers 

 had been read. It was also satisfactory that they had had such 

 a large addition of new members, and that, instead of the funds» 

 like those of the Government, showing a large deficit, there was 

 now a considerable balance in hand. That was due in a large 

 measure to the energy of their worthy Honorary Secretary, Mr. 

 Maughan. (Applause). 



Mr. L. A. Bernays seconded the motion. He also referred 

 to the excellent work the Secretary had done, particularly with, 

 regard to the funds. The outstanding liabilities of last session 

 had been cleared off, but there was a credit balance in hand, 

 and there were no liabilities behind. (Hear, hear). Members 

 worked now with much better spirit, for there was no dead horse. 

 He would be glad if the members of the medical profession could 

 be induced to attend their meetings. l^>esides those who did 

 attend he wished some of the elder members of that learned body 

 would interest themselves in their proceedings. These remarks 

 applied particularly with regard to one branch — the sanitary. 

 They would like to see science combined with the practical as 

 much as possible. 



The motion was agreed to. 



The retiring President, Mr. F. M. Bailey, F.L.S., then read 

 his Presidential Address as follows : — 



PRESIDENTIAL ADDEESS. 



JULY, 1891. 

 It was my intention in this Address to confine myself, when 

 referring to Australian botany, to a notice of what had been 

 done during the past year towards working up the indigenous 

 flora. But a friend to whom I mentioned the matter suggested 

 that I should rather give a brief ivsnine of the history of 

 botanic work in Australia ; and when I considered the rather 

 large number of our members who take more or less interest 



