PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. xlix 



course, infer too hastilj^ on this account that real progress has been 

 made ; for knowledge is not always advanced in proportion to the 

 ]iuniber of pages published in the name of science. But whether 

 to be taken as an index of progress or not, there can be no doubt 

 that the papers published in the Transactions are gradually 

 becoming longer. In an opening address to the Institute in 1888 

 Professor MacGregor stated that the average length of paper given 

 1o tlie Institute for the first quarter century of its existence was 

 ',) pages. The average for the sixteen years previous to 1907 was, 

 as we have seen, 13 pages, and for the last eight years of the same 

 period 15 j.4 pages. 



During the past year ele^'en contributions were presented, of 

 which four were biological, four chemical, and three related to 

 geology and mineralogy. It is probable that in volume these will 

 at least equal the average for recent years. 



To turn now to statistics of members.hip, the Institute started 

 in 1890 with a total membership of 91. This number rose to 134 

 in 1897 and to a maximum of 136 in 1899. It then fell somewhat 

 abruptly to 110 in 1901, and remained at about this number nntil 

 1906, when it fell to 101. The rapid decline for the two years 

 following 1899 is not to be considered a mark of decay. It merely 

 signifies that inactive members had been dropped from the. list. 



It is pleasant to be able to report that during the past year 

 our membership suffered no losses by death. One ordinary member 

 resigned owing to his removal from the province. At the same 

 time one corresponding and nine ordinary members were added 

 to our number. This is a gratifying increase ; but more gratifying 

 still is the fact that from these new members came five papers or 

 nearly half of the total contributions for the year. 



Progress of Teclmical Education. 

 Viewing the present prospects of the Institute in the light 

 of past achievement we find on the whole much encouragement to 

 renewed effort in the future. Progress has not been rapid, but 

 there is reason to think it has been real. So much is a fair 

 inference from the facts that have just been presented. And if 

 \v(" look bevond the walls of the Institute we shall (iud in some 



