LVIII PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



The University of Queensland, which at present has four pro- 

 fessors and seventeen lecturers and demonstrators, will probably 

 commence the academic year with no less than 200 students. 

 At the University of Western Australia it is very gratifying to 

 note that out of the eight chairs advertised, for which there was 

 an aggregate of 230 applicants, no less than four have been given 

 to alumni of Australian Universities, viz., the Chair of English 

 to Walter Murdoch; that of Chemistry to N. T. M. Williams, 

 D.Sc, both of Melbourne University; the Chair of Engineer- 

 ing to Hubert E. Whitfeld, B.A., B.E. ; and that of Geology 

 to W. G. Woolnough, D.Sc, both of Sydney University.^ This 

 fact speaks for itself as to the standard of Australian University 

 teaching. Our hearty good wishes go with all these new pro- 

 fessors no less than with their colleagues newly appointed from 

 the Old World, and may we not wish this, the youngest of the 

 Australian States, every success in its splendid academic enter- 

 prise ! 



Australian Climate, Fast and Present, with special reference 

 to its control hy Antarctica. — Although no meteorologist, I have 

 necessarily had. in the course of my geological work, to devote 

 some little time to the study of that subject, and when in 

 Antarctica, in 1909-10, during the long winter months when geo- 

 logical studies were all but impossible, concentrated my attention 

 as much as possible upon the local weather conditions, and especi- 

 ally upon the problems of circulation of the upper atmosphere in 

 that region. 



It is proposed now to discuss the nature and circulation of the 

 atmosphere in general briefly, and then to pass on to consider the 

 circulation in the Antarctic and its influence on Australian cli- 

 mate, past and present in particular, with some notes in con- 

 clusion as to what appeared to be special needs, at present and 

 in the near future, of Australasian meteorology. 



First, this sketch may begin with a summary of what are 

 probably the chief causes of the circulation of the atmosphere. 

 Firstly, the circulation results from the spherical shape of the 

 earth, which causes in turn the differential heating of the earth's 

 surface by the sun, for an important fact must be emphasized, 



' Sine 5 this wis written, th3 Chiir of History at Wastsrn Australia has bsen awarded to 

 E. O. G. Sha.in, B.A. of tht: Univjrsity of Melbourne. 



