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none the less valuable, and we look with pride on our little 

 volume of Transactions as our modest contribution to the 

 ever accumulating stores of scientific knowledge. 



The programme for the proposed Antarctic voyage, as 

 sketched out by our Victorian confreres, presents a varied and 

 numerous array of subjects for investigation — subjects on 

 which additional information will be welcomed by the 

 scientific men of all countries. The commercial advantages, 

 too, are sufficiently promising to have induced the Victorian 

 Premier to lend his powerful support to the movement ; and 

 I notice that the Premier of Queensland approves of the 

 project, although he doubts if the time is opportune ; and 

 seeing that the Geographical Societies of England, Germany, 

 Italy, and Denmark are all anxious to see the work under- 

 taken, I think we may rest assured that some good results 

 will follow, and that we shall be in good company if we join 

 in the work. 



Lastly, it is incumbent upon Australia to take part in this 

 exploration. We aspire to be the leading power in these 

 Southern Seas, we are gradually setting up a Monroe doc- 

 trine of our own, and we are working ourselves into a 

 perfectly hysterical condition at the bare thought of French- 

 men or Germans poaching upon what we consider our 

 preserves. 



All this may be very good policy if we can persuade other 

 nations to see things as we do ; but we must make up our 

 minds to act as well as talk, and that it is useless for us to 

 expect the whole force of the British Empire to be exerted 

 in favour of our schemes unless we can prove that our aim is 

 calculated to promote the welfare of the Empire as well as 

 our own. If we expect to be the ruling power in these seas, 

 the sooner we show ourselves upon them the sooner we shall 

 see our claims recognised, and it is only by fostering a spirit 

 of adventure and enterprise that a maritime power can be 

 built up. The great commercial Empire of Great Britain 

 was founded by adventurers who, in the days of Queen 

 Elizabeth, made their way into newly discovered lands, 

 establishing themselves in the most promising regions and 

 defying all efforts to dislodge them. If we wish to build up 

 a maritime power we must follow their example ; and if we 

 wish to preserve the islands of the Pacific for our commerce 

 we must turn our attention to forming an Australian Navy 

 and show the Mother Country that we are able to hold what 

 we may acquire. Australia has already shown the Mother 

 Country that she is prepared to share the clangers as well as 

 the benefits of our connection ; let us now show her that we 

 are ready to send an Australian Contingent to share her 

 work of science. If we do we may be certain that in this 



