BY HIS EXCELLENCY, 255 



that in Victoria this had been greatly exaggerated, and asking 

 for information as to the highest Tasmacian trees. Our Society 

 thereupon addressed a circular to several persons living in 

 different districts where large trees grow, but although we 

 have had many communications in reply to our request, we 

 have not yet received authentic information of any existing 

 tree exceeding 331ft. in height. I would ask every one who 

 may read these remarks, who is in a position to send authentic 

 measurement of any tree exceeding this height to be good 

 enough to do so. Mr. E. A. Counsel, the Deputy- Survey or 

 General, has also instructed his surveyors, whenever possible, 

 to find the elevation of any unusually large trees they come 

 across, and to furnish the result to this Society. 



Mr. James Andrew submitted a very suggestive paper on 

 Angora goat farming, and this was followed by an interesting 

 letter on the subject from Mr. J, Smith, of Westwood. I 

 hrpe the attention called to this subject by our proceedings 

 may lead to the utilisation in this way of some of our rough 

 mountainous and scrubby country, which is practically value- 

 less for feeding sheep or cattle. 



Mr. Johnston, whose range of subjects is about as wide as 

 our Society itself, submitted a paper on pyramidal numbers, 

 which seemed to me, as I listened to it, to be more ingenious 

 than the most ingenious puzzle, but I feel sure when it comes 

 to be studied, that like all his work, it will be a worthy 

 addition to the proceedings of the Society. 



Our respected Vice-President, Mr. Barnard, laid before us 

 a most interesting paper on the last living aboriginal of 

 Tasmania. Mr. Barnard's long connection with this Society 

 has taught him the true method of scientific inquiry, viz., to 

 take nothing for granted, even although accepted by the 

 bulk of opinion, and to give categorically his own reasons for 

 Tiis conclusions. We all hope the Society may long continue 

 to receive papers from him. 



Captain Shortt read an interesting paper on the possible 

 oscillation of levels of land and sea in Tasmania, and 

 lie submitted a chart to us showing the registration of 

 temperature by a self -registering thermometer recently 

 received from Paris. This instrument will no doubt become 

 of great value, as it shows the precise time of each day at 

 which the greatest heat and cold are experienced, and also the 

 duration of the varying temperatures during the 24 hours, 

 which cannot be ascertained from the present maximum and 

 minimum thermometers. We hope we may have a paper 

 from him on this subject next session. 



