337 



being conducted with competitive industry and commendable 

 rivalry in many of the world's laboratories. We will welcome 

 further and early discoveries from our tellow-member, and 

 wish him the distinction of priority in the recognition of 

 some of the great fundamental laws that govern the ulti- 

 mate ions and 'electrons of matter and force. 



Here we may pause for a moment to recognize the in- 

 debtedness of the Royal Society to these members of the pro- 

 fessorial ana teacning staff of the Adelaide University, and 

 notice how such sister institutions minister to each other. 

 Since the day when the late Professor Tate took the Chair of 

 Natural Science, and, impressed with the value of a Royal 

 Society, practically remodelled the then existing institution 

 and made it what it is, we have been under deep obligation 

 to the University staff ; and as that seat of learning grows with 

 the progress of the State we may hope to derive greater and 

 more varied benefits. Happily, the benefit is mutual. For it 

 is a definite advantage to have at hand an institution such as 

 ours, through which the results of their labours may be made 

 public; and more, may be given a world-wide publicity, and 

 so may secure the credit they deserve, and be made useful 

 as stepping-stones for further advances. 



In Botany we have the description of a new Aroid by 

 Mr. Maiden, and some few exhibits by Mr. Howchin, Mr. 

 Tepper, and Mr. Smeaton. In this particular division we 

 seem to be rather feeble. Is it through lack of some capable 

 leader, who is not already overburdened with other work ; 

 or, more likely, through the unfounded fear of imposing 

 trivialities upon a learned Society ? Is there not some en- 

 thusiastic botanist in our State who will take the lead and 

 organize our junior botanists, direct a search for new forms, 

 urge a more thorough acquaintance with the old, and who 

 will stimulate them with a desire to study the many absorbing 

 and delightful questions about the life-history of our plants ? 

 In the Far North there must be opportunities of successful 

 hunting in unfrequented localities for unrecorded species, and 

 charming surprises for the tireless explorer of out-of-the-way 

 gorges, deserts, and waterholes. Yes, and even equal sur- 

 prises for the inquisitive and patient observer of the tiny de- 

 tails of form, habit, disease, and use of the plants which grow 

 on the Mount Lofty Ranges or the widespread Adelaide 

 Plains. 



I am pleased to notice on the agenda-paper for this even- 

 ing ''A Description of a New Caladenia, by Dr. Rogers." 

 May we congratulate him on the discovery of a new plant, 

 and ourselves upon the discovery of a new contributor to our 



