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Within the last few days a circular and outline have been 

 issued to you, setting forth, in some detail, the plan upon 

 which it is proposed to proceed, accompanied by a map 

 which I may term the foundation on which to build up the 

 work. I need not point out to you that the preparation of 

 a map containing so much elaborate detail is a work of much 

 skill, and necessitating the expenditure of a large amount of 

 time ; and I take this opportunity of congratulating our 

 esteemed Secretary, Mr. W. A. Pearce, to whose unaided 

 labours we are indebted for its production, on behalf of the 

 Society, upon the very able manner in which he has com- 

 pleted the arduous task so willingly undertaken by him. 



From the numerous offers of assistance already received, 

 both from members and friends of the Society, there is 

 good reason for believing that abundant material will be 

 forthcoming ; and I cannot urge upon you too strongly the 

 desirability of every member giving the fullest information 

 in this respect. 



The promised " descriptions of the various catchment 

 basins " are already in course of preparation, and there 

 appears to be every probability that the work of compila- 

 tion will proceed forthwith. 



It is, perhaps, premature to speak upon the subject of 

 publication further than is mentioned in the outline plan 

 already referred to ; but I may be permitted to say that the 

 comprehensiveness of the work and the rate of publication 

 must largely depend upon the available means for the time 

 being, and that, however important the work may prove 

 itself to be as it progresses, it must not be allowed to be- 

 come a drain upon the ordinary resources of the Society. 

 It is probable that a scheme bearing upon the subject may 

 ere long be brought before you ; but in the meantime 

 a special publication fund (that has received sufficient 

 support to provide for the printing of the maps, circulars, 

 etc., without trenching upon the ordinary funds of the 

 Society) has been opened, and to this I would direct your 

 attention. 



