XXVI PEOCEBDINGB, MAY. 



were interested more or less in the success of such an expedition, but 

 Tasmania was specially interested, and the E,oyal Society had taken the 

 matter up, as would be seen by the resolutions that the secretary would 

 read. He felt peculiarly interested in the question, inasmuch as he had 

 lived in the time, and had witnessed the advent into our waters of the 

 Erebus and Terror when they returned from their exploration, and 

 had the gratification of meeting their distinguished commanders at 

 Government House at the time of Sir John Franklin's Governorship. 

 The project had been initiated in Victoria, and he did not yet know 

 what New South Wales intended to do, but it would never do for 

 Tasmania, which had the greatest interest in such a project from its 

 position, to fail to engage in an expedition in the essential success of 

 which it would share very fully in. He did not know either whether 

 the Home Government would share in the expense, but the leading 

 scientific men in Great Biitain, including those who had ventured 

 towards the North Pole, had taken a very great interest in the matter. 

 In conclusion, he expressed an earnest hope that Government would 

 give the proposal a favourable consideration. 



The Bishop, and Mr, R. M. Johnston did not think it necessary t©' 

 occupy further time, as the matter had been very fully placed before 

 the Premier. 



Mr. Alex. Morton said the society had passed the following re- 

 solution in September, 1886, upon which occasion Mr. C. P. Sprent read 

 a paper on "The Proposed Antarctic Exploration": — "That in the 

 opinion of this society it is desirable, in the interest of science and 

 commerce, that the exploration of the Antarctic regions should be 

 continued, and that Tasmania should co-operate with the other Australian 

 colonies in the despatch of an expedition for that purpose, and that 

 the council communicate this resolution to the Premier." This was 

 done, and at the last monthly meeting of the Society the subject was 

 again considered on the reception of a communication from the Royal 

 Society of Victoria and a progress report of the Antarctic Exploration 

 Committee. It was then resolved that the council be authorised to 

 approach the Government on behalf of the Royal Society, in connection 

 with the Antarctic Exploration Fund. 



The Peemiee, in reply, said thej- would be well aware of the 

 multifarious matters brought under the notice of Ministers, including 

 many that were far out of the ordinary routine of official duty. This 

 was one of these, but it was a matter in which the Government desired 

 to co-operate in any possible way it could, and they had to thank the 

 Royal Society for having taken the initiative. I he Government would 

 still have to look to them to give direction to any practical support it 

 might feel disposed to accord. But before Parliament was asked to 

 vote any assistance there should be something to demonstrate that it 

 was the wish of the people, and he would suggest that Parliament 

 should be asked to grant £1 or £2 for every £1 subscribed. He did not 

 know whether Victoria proposed that the £10,000, which it was- 

 estimated the expedition would cost, should be divided over the 

 Australian communities jpro rata, or whether Victoria and New South 

 Wales proposed to bear the larger share of the burden. If it were 

 federally divided, Tasmania's share would be a comparatively light one, 

 and he would not at all fear that Parliament would not vote it. Still it 

 would veiy much strengthen the case if the Society would collect from 

 the commercial, scientific, and other portions of the community, 

 sufficient to show that the public took an interest in it. Personally, he 

 hoped to see the colony carrying out the traditions of its fathers. The 

 Anglo-Saxon race were a discovering people, and many of them regretted 

 that Christopher Columbus was not one of the race. They Avere all 



