XXVI PEOCEEDINGS, NOVEMBEE. 



sion in your fruit trade, and in your asricultural industries generally. 

 But the mineral wealth of Tasmania will, I feel confident, be a most 

 important factor in restoring her prosperity, lb is most cheering to 

 note that during a period of almost unexampled depression, not only 

 is the output from our mines increasing, but much of the increase is 

 coming from new districts altogether. With the restoration of confi- 

 dence brighter times must come. I must not be understood as implying 

 that the periods of prosperity and depression of any particular country 

 are wholly dependent upon what passes in that country, for the ramifi- 

 cations of commerce are world-wide. There is no doubt in my mind 

 that the collapse of Baring Brothers, who had, I believe, very little 

 direct Australian connection, was a powerful factor in bringing about 

 the general depression from which we, in common with many other 

 parts of the world, are at present suS"eriDg, and is it quite conceivable 

 that the first movement in the direction of prosperous times for us may 

 come from the other side of the globe. Even as I write this address, a 

 new light is arising out of the darkness, which can be dimly seen 

 across the broad Pacific. The altered policy of America, of which we 

 are now being daily informed by cable, givea us good grounds for hoping 

 that at no distant time a reduction will be made in the duties charged 

 on wool and tin which the United States take from us, and that thus 

 the demand for these staple productions of Tasmania will be largely 

 increased. Then, again, we are all looking forward to a federation of 

 these colonies. Many regard this as distant. I believe it to be near. 

 But near or distant when it does co"ne it will be an enormous benefit 

 to Tasmania, and by aflfording increased outlets for our products will 

 so add to our prosperity that our national debt will sit much more 

 lightly than it now does on our shoulders. 



In conclusion, it is not only the material prosperity of a country 

 which is benefited and advantaged by the operations of a Society like 

 this, and by the other educational influences to which I have referred. 

 Such agencies also have a direct tendency towards the moral elevation 

 of the community. They instil in us a love of truth, for truth's sake, 

 and perhaps insensibly, but none the less surely, they raise our standard 

 of political, commercial, and social morality. I wish all these agencies 

 in this country God-speed. And now I must bid you all farewell. I 

 thank ihe Fellows of this Society for their unvarying personal kind- 

 ness and consideration towards myself. I thank you, Mr. Barnard, 

 for the support, as Vice-President, you have always given me. I 

 thank the secretary, Mr. Morton, for the excellence of his arrangements 

 in all matters connected with our meetings, and with the work of the 

 Society generally, and for reducitg to a minimum the more or less 

 formal work of the President. I thank Mr. Johnston for the assistance 

 he has always so readily rendered me, not alone in matters connected 

 with this Society. I congratulate Tasmania on having a man of Mr. 

 Johnston's genius in her community, whose splendid work on her 

 geology reflects credit alike on the author and on the country to which 

 he belongs ; and 1 congratulate this Society on having, as one of its 

 members, a man of Mr. Johnston's power and knowledge, able and willing 

 to render you yeoman service. It will always be a source of satisfaction 

 to me that I have had the privilege of filling for so long a time the office 

 of your President, and I will carry back with me to the Old Country 

 few associations more pleasant than those connected with the Royal 

 Society of Tasmania. 



