XXX 



ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS, JUNE, 1904. 



The monthly iiieetiug of members of 

 this society was heLd in the eociety's room 

 at the Museum on the evening of Mon- 

 day, June 13. His Excellency the Lieut.- 

 Governor, Sir John Dodds, K.C.M.G., 

 C.J.. presided, and amongst those present 

 were the Private Secretary (Mr. F. 

 Dodds), the Chief Secretary (tion. Dr. 

 McCall;, Mr. E. M. Johnston, I.S.U., Dr. 

 Gerard Smith, Mr. B. Shaw. Mr. G. E. 

 Moore, and the secretary (Mr. A. Mor- 

 ton). Apologies for abseuoe were intimat- 

 ed from Colonel Legge and Mr. E. A. 

 Counsel. 



His Excellency said: Before I call upon 

 Mr. B. M. Johnston to read his paper, I 

 propose to perform a very ipleasiant duty 

 that has been entrussted to me. i have 

 been asked to express, on behalf of ciiis 

 society, of which Mr. Johnston is a vice- 

 president and distinguished member, the 

 gratiiication with which it received the 

 announcement that his long and most 

 valuable services to the State had been 

 recognised by his Sovereign, who had con- 

 ferred upon him the imperial Service 

 Oider.^ This Order was instituted by 

 King hdward VII. on June 26, 19U2, with 

 a View of recognising faithful and meri- 

 torious service rendered by members of 

 the adminiistrative branches of the Civil 

 Services of the various parts of tne Em- 

 pire. It consists of the Sovereign and the 

 Prince of Wales and 425 companions, ^wj 

 for the Home Civil Service, and Ito for 

 the Civil Services of the colonies and 

 Protectorates. If we just think tJriat of 

 the enormous number of persons employ- 

 ed in the various colonial Civil Services 

 throughout our great Empire, only 175 

 can become Companions of the Order, we 

 shall realise how great is the distinction 

 that Mr. Johnston has won for himesif. 

 The badge of the Order is a medallion of 

 gold and enamel, bearing on one side the 

 Imperial and Eoyal cyphez% ond on the re- 

 verse "For faithful service,"" both exe- 

 cuted in dark blue enamel on a plaque, 

 or shield, of gold, surrounded by a 

 "wreath of laurel, surmounted by the Im- 

 perial Crown. We are very glad indeed 

 that Mr. Johnston has received this 

 proud distinction, because we know how 

 justly it is deserved. Mr. Johnston's ser- 

 vices to this State rank amongst the 

 highest, because, in addition to their in- 

 trinsic value, they have been unceasing 

 and patriotic. Coming to Tasmania nearly 

 35 years ago from Scotland, that country 

 which has given so many splendid men 

 to the service of the Empire, Mr. John- 

 ston has devoted himself since with un- 

 flagging zeal and energy to the advance- 

 ment of the interests of this State. He 

 has thrown himself into his work with a 

 disregard for all personal considerations, 

 and his example of unselfish devotion to 

 his duties and his high character have 



exercised a beneficial influence in the ser- 

 vice to which he belongs. Tempting offers- 

 of more lucrative employment in other 

 States have been refused by him. He has 

 been true to Tasmania, and faithful to 

 her service in the highest degree. The 

 simple, yet expressive legend, b'or faith- 

 ful c)ervice," inscribed on his Order, most 

 ciptly recognises hia merit. But Mr. 

 Johnston's labours have not been confined 

 to the routine of his official work. He 

 has been indefatigable in the cause of 

 science. No member of this society, from. 

 its inauguration in the year 1843, has 

 contributed a greater number of original 

 papers than Mr. Johnston, many of them 

 being most valuable. He has taken us 

 over a wide range of scientific knowledge, 

 and has treated of natural history, 

 botany, geology, palaeontology, economics^ 

 and other subjects. Probably his greatest 

 achievement is the splendid work, en- 

 titled "The Geology of Tasmania,,'" ^xxe 

 first complete treatment of the subiect 

 ever published. It gives u.3 the result of 

 years of patient investigation of the geo- 

 logical formations of the island, and is a 

 monument of the author's untiring in- 

 dustry and rproficient scientific knowledge. 

 On its publication it was most favour- 

 ably received by leading English, Euro- 

 pean, and American geologists. Professor 

 Judd, one of the most eminent of living 

 English geologists, thus speaks of this 

 important work in the pages of 

 "2\ature": — "But, quite independent 

 of the scientific value of the 

 work, which, as we have seen, is 

 certainly very great, we think the Go- 

 vernment and people of Tasmania are to 

 be congratulated upon the character of 

 this remarkable and ha.ndsome volume. 

 It aims at being, above all things, of 

 practical use, and its great object ia to 

 direct the attention of colonists to ques- 

 tions of pressing interest and import- 

 ance. It is not often that the wants of 

 the general public and of the scientific 

 specialist have been so admirably met, 

 or that a book has been produced which 

 is at the same time accurate and 

 thorough in its treatment of technical 

 questions, while it is not wanting in the 

 more elementary details required by 

 those who have not had the advantage of 

 a scientific training." This being the 

 kind of service rendered, is it not fitting 

 that the society that has received so much 

 from him should ungrudgingly express 

 its pleasure at the distinction to which 

 he has attained. I have not mentioned 

 Mr. Johnston's personal qualities, be- 

 caui-e it is unueces.sary. They are widely 

 known and appreciated, but I should like 

 to say that the actions of his life appear 

 to me to be governed by those principles 

 of justice and kindness towards others 

 which God has establiyshed as the only 



