president's address SECTION E. 129 



late Surveyor-General of Victoria, whose map of continental 

 Australia, published in 1887, is well known. This new map it is 

 proposed to publish under the auspices of the Victorian Branch of 

 the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia, of which Mr. Skene 

 is a member. 



GEOGRAPHICAL DISCOVERY AND EXPLOEATION, AND THE 

 IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN ITS RELATION 

 THERETO. 



Now that the more important geographical features of the 

 Australian Continent are known, the necessity for correct topo- 

 graphical and geological surveys are becoming every day more and 

 more apparent . A topographical map, showing a correct delinea- 

 tion of the surface features of the country, is a fundamental neces- 

 sity for the geological surveyor ; the localities where mineral 

 substances of value exist, the soils suitable for agriculture and 

 horticulture, and the facilities for Avater storage and irrigation 

 clearly indicated ; in short, topography is to the geologist what 

 anatomy is to the surgeon and physician. 



In a paper read a short time ago by Mr. James Stirling, F.G.S., 

 of the Geological Survey Department, before the Institute of Sur- 

 veyors at Melbourne, that gentleman urged, in the interest of the 

 miner, the agriculturist, the civil and hydraulic engineer, the 

 duty of the Victorian Government to complete the topographical 

 and geological surveys of the colony. The suggestion is a valuable 

 one, and should be acted upon by Lha Governments of all the 

 Australian Colonies. 



The growing importance of photography in its application to 

 science, notably to geography, is a matter of congratulation. 

 Every explorer should avail himself of the great advantages that a 

 knowledge of photography secures in enabling him to illustrate his 

 route, register his observations, portray with scientific accuracy 

 the visible objects, topographical and otherwise, met with in his 

 travels. Until very recently the work was done by pen and 

 pencil. The most finished illustrations, though they had a more 

 or less amount of truth, were often obscured by some personality 

 which rendered them valueless, or even misleading; but no one 

 will deny that it might have been more satisfactorily accomplished 

 by well-executed photographs. 



It is not possible to portray with any degree of accuracy, or to 

 illustrate and describe in a perfectly realistic manner, scenes and 

 incidents by the way, so as to render them of permanent value, 

 without the aid of the camera. The series of photographic views 

 taken by the Elder Scientific Exploring Expedition will be of 

 great interest for all time, and it must be admitted that in no other 

 way could true pictures of the country traversed have been con- 

 veyed to the general public. 

 I 



