xxii PEOCEEDINGS, AUGUST. 



" The Consul-General for Sweden and Norway, who was present at 

 the meeting, kindly promised to communicate with Barons Nordenski'old 

 and Dickson, and to transmit copies of the report of the meeting. A 

 committee was formed to prepare resolutions to be submitted at a public 

 meeting to be held during the month of August. Arrangements will be 

 made for delivering one or more public lectures. Already several hand- 

 some subscriptions (two of £100 each) have been promised, and the 

 committee feel satisfied that if a reasonable effort is made the required- 

 amount will easily be raised. 



" In conclusion, the committee respectfully request your cordial co- 

 operation in a movement which is essentially Australian and National, 

 and which should certainly result in the acquisition of knowledge to the 

 world, and the prospective possibilities of profitable investment. 



" A. C. Macdonald, 

 " Hon. Sec. and Treasurer. 



" The Secretary, 

 "Royal Society of Tasmania." 



[Telegram.] " Melbourne, July, 31, 1890. 

 "The Secretary, Royal Society of Tasmania, Hobart. 



" At a meeting of the Australian Antarctic Committee held 29th inst., 

 Baron Oscar Dickson's munificent offer to defray half the cost of an 

 expedition under the command ot Baron Nordenski'old, to explore the 

 Antarctic regions, conditionally that the Australian colonies subscribe 

 the other half not exceeding £5,000, the offer was cordially accepted, 

 and it was unanimously resolved to appeal to the general public alone 

 (not to Government) for subscriptions in aid of the object. Two 

 members of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Messrs. J. 

 S. Gotch and Professor Kernot), subscribed £100 each, and several other 

 sums have also been promised. Public meetings and lectures are being 

 arranged. His Excellency the Earl of Hopetoun will preside at the 

 inaugural lecture to be held early in August. The Consul-General for 

 Sweden has undertaken to communicate with Barons Dickson ano! 

 Nordenskiold. The Antarctic Committee respectfully requests your co- 

 operation, and suggests the formation of an Antarctic Committee 

 composed of members of your Society and other leading commercial 

 gentlemen in Hobart. Letters embodying resolutions passed here on 

 29th inst. and form of subscription list by post. 



" A. C. Maodonald, 

 "Hon. Sec. and Treasurer, R.G.S. of Aust." 



His Excellency said : It seems to me that the objects to be gained 

 by Antarctic exploration are so numerous and important, that it seems 

 to be strange that it should have been so long delayed. When we 

 consider that we know almost nothing practically of these regions, that 

 a chart has yet to be made of them, showing which points and coast 

 lines are land and which are merely floating ice, and that the geology, 

 botany, and natural history of this great region are all at present a 

 blank, I cannot conceive of any more worthy field for the explorer from 

 a scientific point of view. Moreover, until we know something of this 

 immense area, we must remain in ignorance of the laws which govern 

 the climates of the globe, and more particularly of the vast continent of 

 Australia. Then again, to us in Tasmania, the nearest of the Australian 

 colonies to these regions, the commercial aspects of the exploration may 

 prove important, for it is quite conceivable that it might lead to a 

 revival of the great whaling industry which was once a staple industry 

 of Tasmania. One feels a certain amount of regret that this exploration 

 should not have been undertaken under the British flag, seeing that the 

 interests of the British Empire in it are certainly greater than those of 

 any other country, but when such a noble offer has been made as that 



