16 APPENDIX TO president's ADDRESS. 



the Southport meeting in 1883) only a comparatively small number cou](5 

 arrange to visit Australia. The round voyage could scarcely be squeezed 

 into the long vacation of those fortunate enough to have one, and the 

 necessary travelling expenses would considerably exceed the whole year's 

 income of many— for the pursuit of science is not a lucrative one, and as a 

 rule its followers are poor. 



Hence, taking all things into account I do not think we could expect 

 more than fifty members, if so many. And unless some 400 or 500 attended 

 (between 800 and 900 entered their names for the Montreal session), the- 

 gathering could scarcely be considered as a meeting of the British Associa- 

 tion. Therefore, instead of looking for a near visit from the As-sociation, 

 I would suggest that we should rather be, preparing the way for issuing an 

 invitation later on, when we have made suitable provision to entertain our 

 intended scientific guests, and as a preliminary step I would venture to- 

 suggest as a member of the parent Association, that we might try to bring 

 abjut a federation or union of the members of the various .Scientific 

 (Societies in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand, into an Australasian 

 Association for the Advancement of Science on the lines of the British 

 Association, with a view to hold the first general meeting in Sydney, on the 

 hundredth anniversary of the Colony, when there will probably be an 

 International Exhibition to celebrate that event. With the combined 

 attractions we might hope to gather together a very fair number of scientific 

 visitoi-s to take part in the proceedings. 



I mooted the question during the last Exhibition in Sydney, in 

 1879, but matters seemed hardly ripe for it ; but now, perhaps, with the 

 greater advancement in numbers and in wealth, something might come of 

 it in 1888. 



The details for an Association suited to the scattered Australasian 

 Colonies necessarily offer some difficulties, but they can all be more or less 

 readily overcome, and I hope to be al^le shortly to communicate with the 

 different Societies to discuss the necessary arrangements 



After the first meeting the gatherings coixld take place annually, or 

 every two or three years, in one of <Aie principal towns of Australasia, as 

 agreed upon by the members. 



I am sure that such an Association — which must come sooner or later 

 if we are to hold our own — would not only do a great deal for the advance- 

 ment of science in the Colonies, but would also favour their progress in 

 other ways. 



Trusting that this letter may bring about expressien of opinion upon 

 the matter, 



I am. &c , 



A. LIVERSIDGE. 

 The University, September 16, 1884. 



In his President's address delivered to the Royal Society of 

 N.S.W., 5th May, 1886, Professor Liversidge returns to the 

 subject and says — 



" I am still of opinion that arrangements should be made for holding such 

 a meeting in 1888, and for founding the proposed Australasian Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, and I shall be glad if those who are in 

 favour of it will kindly send me their names as intending members, so that 

 the necessary preliminary steps can be taken. 



" If the proposed Australian Association for the Advancement of Science 

 should really become an accomplished fact, as I hope it will — for progress 

 in material affairs cannot well be expected, and certainly will not be made 

 unless a corresponding advancement be first made in science — we should 

 not necessarily be compelled to hold yearly meetings at first. The head- 



