THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 61 



Government of New South Wales is providing ;^2,ooo, that of 

 Queensland _;^i,ooo, that of Tasmania ;!^5oo, while the Govern- 

 ments of the other Australian colonies are considering to what 

 extent Government aid can be given. These amounts are irre- 

 spective of private contributions towards this great enterprise, 

 which amount to nearly ;^i,5oo. It appears from public state- 

 ments made by Baron Oscar Dickson during his visit to London 

 some few months ago, that the funds necessary for an effective 

 Antarctic expedition should not be less than ;^i5,ooo, of which 

 Baron Dickson will himself provide ;^5,ooo. "With this sum 

 steamers can be purchased and so thoroughly equipped as to 

 render the Swedish-Australian expedition one likely to yield grand 

 results, not only in science in many directions, but also in com- 

 merce and industry, by initiating by definite reconnoitering 

 whaling and sealing by subsequent steamers in regions never 

 touched since creation, and yet comparatively near to Australia." 

 Baron von Mueller continues : — " It is, however, not generally 

 recognized here how much depends on us collecting our monetary 

 forces so as to enable Baron von Nordenskiold, the illustrious 

 accomplisher of the eastern passage through the Arctic Sea, to get 

 ready, during the present northern summer and autumn, with all 

 needful strengthening and scientific fittings, the two ships, which 

 ought for safety to keep company, in order that he with his com- 

 panions may leave Sweden as soon as the ice breaks up, early 

 next year, so as to reach Australian ports before the middle of 

 1892, where he could receive the Government subsidies and other 

 monetary contributions and scientific assistance. It would then 

 be possible for him to form the depot at Macquarie Island not 

 later than September, with the full nightless season before him. 

 If the required aid cannot be fully secured very soon then clearly 

 the season of 1892-93 will be lost for the expedition." Baron 

 von Mueller further points out that in this association of natural- 

 ists here the objects in which we are particularly interested must 

 be any of the physiographic researches, and that while the cele- 

 brated leader will resume the great geographic, meteorological, 

 and magnetic observations of Sir James Ross in the Erehus and 

 Terror expedition with the advantage of steam power for naviga- 

 tion and other auxiliary means of modern times, at least two 

 Australian specialists as representatives of biology and geology 

 will accompany the Nordenskiold expedition. Thus, the under- 

 taking is of great significance to the association of field naturalists, 

 and we may hope thus to promote effectively the success of what 

 bids fair to become a historic enterprise. 



At the conclusion of the address, Baron von Mueller added a 

 few words respecting the Club and the proposed expedition to the 

 Antarctic regions, and then moved a hearty vote of thanks to 



