PEESIDENTIAL ADDBESS — SECTION E. 23T 



ture of the earth. Large questions coimected with the dim ate 

 of the world are being worked out from such data as I have 

 indicated ; but these are, thus far, mainly obtained from the 

 Northern Hemisphere. Similar data from this distant out- 

 post in the Southern Hemisphere would therefore be of great 

 value. 



We desire to know if the earth's climate in the present epoch 

 is constant, or, if it be varying, w4ietheritis advancing towards 

 a hotter or colder, a wetter or drier, condition of things. That 

 in the past there have been great secular changes is well 

 established. We have but to examine the drainage-lines of the 

 interior of Australia to learn that they have become dried up in 

 Post-tertiary times ; that pasturages have become deserts, and 

 deserts still more desiccated. We now want to know whether 

 this is to go on further or not. Are we in a meteorologically 

 stationary period ? Has the climate become fixed for a time ? 

 These are interesting questions, and if we can seize on any 

 evidences that, by careful watching, may yield a clue to the 

 answer we ought to grasp the chance. 



Now, in the thermometer we have a measure of the minute 

 momentary fluctuations in temperature; in the an Dual rise 

 and fall of the waters of the mountain-lakes we have a guide 

 to the climate of a season; but in a glacier we have a clue to 

 changes in temperature and precipitation which have operated 

 over longer periods. 



Freshfield has reported that the glaciers of the Old World 

 have been advancing for the past five years. For twenty years 

 before that, those of the European Alps were noted to have 

 shrunken. Those of Mexico are said to be diminishing still. 

 Briicker has investigated the weather reports of six hundred 

 stations scattered throughout the globe, — reports spread over a 

 period of many years, — and his conclusion is that there are slow 

 cosmical fluctuations in temperature and rainfall ; but he 

 requires still more data to determine whether the climate of 

 the epoch is changing. 



I think that I have shown good cause why you should ob- 

 serve these phenomena in New Zealand, and thus contribute 

 new and material facts to the science of geography. 



Turning from the past to the coming year, I would desire to 

 remind you that, through the munificence of Sir Thomas Elder, 

 of South Australia, we hope to complete the exploration of 

 Australia during the next twelve months. This gentleman 

 has asked the Geographical Society to formulate a scheme to 

 effect this purpose, and he undertakes to defray its entire cost. 

 Such enhghtened liberality deserves to be crowned with suc- 

 cess, and I am sure that the enterprise will have your good 

 wishes. 



I would now ask you to give me your further attentioa 



