121 



Report of the Council 



OF THE 



^ogal ^ocietg of <^oitt| ^wstralta 



¥01l THE YEAR EXDIXU SEPTEMBER 30tH, 1882. 



In laying before the Society their report upon the Avork done 

 during the past year, the Council feel that the numerous papers 

 read at the ordinary meetings justify them in the hope that 

 the forthcoming volume of the Society's Transactions will be 

 fully equal in interest to its predecessors. 



The Society has contiuued to receive through the Natural 

 Science Director many specimens for exhibition and identifica- 

 tion, and a good deal of information about the natural history 

 of the province. The corresponding members and local corres- 

 pondents are encouraged in their researches by the aid given 

 to them in the identification of their specimens, and the assur- 

 ance that all that is of value in their observations will be 

 placed on record in the Society's Transactions. More than 

 two years ago the Society commenced the systematic registra- 

 tion of the strata traversed by wells and borings, but the 

 number thus recorded has hitherto borne a very small ratio to 

 what might have been tabulated. The Hon. Commissioners of 

 Public Works and of Crown Lands at the time kindly acceded 

 to the request of the Council that all information obtainel 

 from Government sinkings should be forwarded to the Society, 

 and printed forms were supplied to the heads of Departments 

 for the purpose. Particulars of several boriugs have been re- 

 ceived from the Hydraulic Engineer and the Engineer-in-Chief, 

 but none of the numerous wells sunk by the Surveyor- 

 General's Department in the outlying districts. This is to be 

 regretted, as such information would be especially valuable. 

 Eellows and local correspondents would render great assistance 

 in this work if they would inform the Secretary of any wells 

 about to be sunk either by local authorities or by private 

 persons, in order that blank forms might be forwarded to the 

 proper parties, and correct records obtained. 



