Ixiv President's Address 



lecture, said he wished the Italian Government would have it 



translated into Italian and circulated throughout the country. 

 A telegraph class for ladies has also been established in 

 connection with the museum, at which pupils are instructed 

 in the manipulation and ordinary use of the Morse telegraph 

 instruments. It is intended, I believe, to hold periodic 

 examinations of the pupils, and to grant certificates to such 

 as prove themselves to be competent. The most recent step 

 in the right direction the commissioners have taken is the 

 appointment of a gentleman of undoubted ability to conduct 

 classes in geometry and mathematics. 



The additions that have been made from time to time to 

 our national gallery of pictures now form a most valuable 

 and beautiful collection, and it seems well adapted to fulfil 

 one of its principal objects — the foundation of a school of 

 painting. Already we have seen in Melbourne copies after 

 pictures in our national collection of no small merit, and 

 giving good promises of future excellence. For so young a 

 colony as ours the number of students is even now large, 

 and is, I hear, increasing. The National Museum at the 

 University, under the care of Professor M'Coy, is becoming 

 more complete and perfect every year ; the space that has 

 become available, through the removal of many of the 

 mining and machinery models to the Technological 

 Museum will be most advantageously bestowed upon 

 numerous beautiful specimens and collections which hitherto 

 have appeared somewhat too crowded. 



Botanical science in the colony, represented by our fellow 

 member Baron Von Mueller, has made considerable progress 

 during the past year. I have already referred to his lectures 

 on forest culture, in which he clearly set forth the more 

 important and lasting objects of a botanical department in a 

 new country, and, to quote his own words," a botanic garden 

 has not merely to gratify the passing hour, but has to fulfil 



