Proceedings, &c., for 1872. 207 



fullest extent. As this fact will become known throughout the 

 world, it will doubtless redound largely to the credit of the Society, 

 and tend to dissipate unfavourable impressions which the suspension 

 of the publication of the Transactions may have created. 



" An official statement of the progress and results of the expedition 

 will be laid before you at the next ordinary meeting, by which time 

 it is hoped that all accounts in connexion with it will be finally 

 ■closed and paid. 



" A list of the papers which have been read at the Society's 

 meetings has been prepared for the consideration of the new Council, 

 to be elected to-night, and it is to be hoped that means may soon be 

 found of publishing at least a selection from them, as none have been 

 published since January 1869. The list of papers on hand at the 

 beginning of the last session has since received the following 

 additions: — ^On the 13th March, 1871, the President exhibited and 

 described 'A new form of Spectroscope,' and Mr. MacGeorge read 

 ' Some notes of Observations with the Melbourne Great Telescope of a 

 variety of objects.' On the 17th April Mr. George Foord read a paper 

 ' On Enhydros and their Contents,' giving results of his chemical and 

 microscopical examination thereof. On the 8th May Mr. A. K. 

 Smith read a paper ' On self-acting Hydrostatic Chime and Clock- 

 weights.' On the 12 th June the President read a paper ' On Gun- 

 cotton as an Explosive Agent'; ' Mr. MacGeorge produced a plan 

 and described ' A Method of applying Hydraulic Power to the 

 Striking of very large Clocks'; Mr. ^^'hite also read a paper, in 

 which he proposed improvements in the construction of the cards 

 used in mariners' compasses at sea. On the 10th July Professor 

 Wilson exhibited and described a 'Kain Guage,' and Mr. Newbery 

 read 'Some Notes upon a New Disinfectant (Chloride of Aluminum).' 

 On the 11th of September the President read a paper, contributed 

 by Mr. S. R. Deverell, 'On Ocean Waves and their Action on Floating 

 Bodies'; Mr. MacGeorge read another, presented by Mr. E. K. Home, 

 * On a Linear Method of finding the Stability of Ships'; and Mr. 

 H. E. Pain read a third, ' On Aboriginal Art and its Decay in 

 Australasia, Polynesia, and Oceanica.' On the 9th October Mr. 

 MacGeorge read a paper, ' On Eta Argus and the surrounding 

 Nebulae'; and Mr. Foord exhibited and described an 'Areometer.' 

 On the 13th of November the Rev. Wm. Kelly read a paper, 'On 

 a ]\lethod of combining Marsh's Test for Arsenic with Reinsch's, so 

 as to secure very reliable results'; and Mr. Bosisto read a paper, 

 ' On the Cultivation in Victoria of Mentha Pi2)erita, or true pepper- 

 mint.' Besides these sixteen papers there are nineteen previously on 

 hand from 1870, from which a selection for printing may be 

 advantageously made. 



" With reference to the Treasurer's balance-sheet for the past year, 

 £5Z 7s. 8d. of this expenditure was incurred in previous years, and 

 the item of commission (£14 12s, 9d.) also belongs chiefly to 1870. 



