Proceedings, i^'C. xiii 



Society made through him as the Secretary. It would be in the 

 recollection of members that at one of their meetings, during the 

 session of 1849, the President of the Imperial Royal Institute of 

 Austria was elected an honorary member of the Philosophical Insti- 

 tute of Victoria, and he supposed the present honour might have been 

 conferred upon him in acknowledgment of that circumstance. He 

 hoped the Society would receive the honor in that spirit, as in that 

 spirit he laid it on tlic table. The Vice-President said he was gratified 

 to find that the Royal Society of Victoria was becoming known and 

 recognised in Europe, and he congratulated his friend, the Hon. 

 Secretary, on the diploma he had received. 



Francis A. Corbett, Esq., read a paper on Statistics, entitled — ''On 

 the Conjugal Condition of the People of Victoria, considered in 

 relation to the Laws of Divorce.'" Xo discussion followed. 



Sizar Elliott, Esq., read a paper on certain modifications of useful 

 tools, as supplied by English and American manufacturers. He 

 pointed out in detail the difference between several farming imple- 

 ments, such as spades, shovels, dungforks, axes, ttc, and commented on 

 the superior finish of tlie American compared with the British goods. 

 He then called attention to certain carpenters' tools, .such as chisels, 

 augurs, hammers, itc, itc, and stated the particulars in which they 

 were to be regarded as .superior to the British goods. He next intro- 

 duced some enamel-ware, which he stated was solely supplied by 

 Great Britain, and he pointed out the gradual improvements that had 

 been made until they reached their present perfection. 'Mr. Elliot 

 concluded by apologising for bringing a subject before the Society 

 that might seem to be more suitable for a Mechanics' Institute, and 

 stated that his object was to induce British manufacturers to pay 

 more attention to tlie finish of their goods, or they would be very 

 liable to be superseded in this market. W. Wade, Esq., of Kew, took 

 exception to several of Mr. Elliott's remarks, and stated his experi- 

 ence had led him to prefer the British manufjictured goods — although 

 in some cases they luight be less sightly, they were more durable and 

 useful. In illu.stration of these views he instanced some farm imple- 

 ments he had purchased, of American make, and which proved to be 

 very inferior to the British. He stated that his men had so great a 

 preference for British goods, that they would rather purchase their 

 own tools than use those supplied to them, if they were American. 

 Dr. Becker made a few remarks on the same subject, and after a short 

 reply from Mr. Elliott, the discussion closed. 



Dr. Macadam called the attention of members to some samples of 

 iron manufactured by ]\rep.srs. Cairns and Co., of the rolling mills, 

 Dudley-street, out of scrap iron, which had been forwarded for in- 

 spection by Thomas Loader, Esq., as he was anxious to draw atten- 

 tion to the matter as one of interest to the colony, these mills being 

 the first of the kind in it. 



(Signed) Neumayeb, Chairman. 



