PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 665 
Section E.—GEOGRAPHY. 
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 
By Sir James Hector, K.C.M.G., M.D., F.B.S, 
(Delivered Friday, January 7, 1898.) 
[ Abstract. | 
Be1NG unable to attempt any review of the great achievements in 
geographical exploration since the last meeting of this section, 
seeing that I have not had access to the extensive literature on 
the subject, I am glad to observe that the papers which are to be 
communicated to the section will review the most salient advances 
that have been made, of which I may indicate the following. 
Since our last meeting the results of the exploring expeditions 
equipped by the munificence of the late Sir Thomas Elder and Mr. 
Horne have been made public, and the wonderful expansion of 
the knowledge of the central and western parts of the Austral- 
asian Continent, obtained through their intrepid journeys, will 
greatly assist the material development of the vastly rich but 
hitherto neglected interior area of Westralia. 
Another feature of great prominence to the future advance of 
geographical discovery in the more difficult parts of the Austral- 
asian Continent is the steady extension of the ‘“ Artesian well ” 
system into the arid areas of the interior, where the absence of 
a reliable water supply has not only prevented the settlement of 
the country but even its exploration, and has caused the loss of 
many enthusiastic and brave pioneers under circumstances of 
intense personal suffering. When the courses of underground 
water circulation are fully comprehended and _ utilised both ex- 
ploration and occupation of large and almost unknown areas will 
become possible. 
In New Zealand the additions to our geographical knowledge 
of most interest are chiefly those arising from the detailed explora- 
tion of the Alpine fastnesses of the higher mountain ranges and 
peaks. These explorations which are partly due to the Govern- 
ment surveyors, but also largely to the efforts of the New Zealand 
