Ill - PROCEEDINGS. 



that at the present rate of destruction the lumber supply of the 

 world would not last more than about thirty years. If that is the 

 ca.se it furnishes a strong additional reason for conserving our Nova 

 Scotian forests. It is wholly unnecessary to tell the members of 

 this Institute in what imminent peril the i-emnants of our forests 

 are placed by the scourge of fire, and perhaps even more by recklesfj 

 and wasteful methods of lumbering. This is not the place to 

 suggest what steps should l)e taken in order to awakoi publit' 

 opinion, which must be first aroused if eifective action in the- 

 matter is to be possible. I am only concerned at present in urging 

 that where important natural resources are being wasted, it is the 

 duty of a scientific society such as the Institute to do all in its 

 power to arrest the evil. The Institute is the only scientific 

 society in the province and as such should be the official exponent 

 of scientific opinion. It should be able to create what may be 

 called a scientific public opinion powerful enough to make itself 

 felt. It is as tnie now as in the days of the wise king that "Where 

 there is no vision the people perish." In such a case as the 

 present it is for men of science to supply the lack of vision. 



In conclusion let me express the fervent hope that the present 

 session will excel all its predecessors in the Aalue of its work for 

 science and for the conimunitv. 



In the absence of the Treasurer, the financial report was 

 deferred to a future meeting. 



The Librarian's report was presented by Mr. Pieks, showing 

 that 1781 books and pamphlets had been received by the InstituLC 

 through its exchange-list during the year 1907; and 1361 had bee:: 

 received during the nine months of the present year, 1908, viz., 

 January to September, inclusive. The total number of books and 

 pamphlets received by the Provincial Science Library (with which 

 the books of the Institute are incorporated) during the year 1907, 

 was 2510. The number of books borrowed in- 1907, was 607, as 

 against 661 in the previous year. 'I'he report was received and 

 adopted. 



It was resolved that the thanks of the society l)e conveyed to 

 His IIoN-OR THE Speaker of the House of Assembly, for his 



