foT the year 1866. 129 



of animals which have no longer an existence on the earth. 

 These interesting discoveries, which have been greatly added 

 to during the past year, have been widely discussed ; but 

 further researches to clear up points now obscure and 

 doubtful are needed before the best authorities will venture 

 on any general conclusions as to the antiquity of man. 



The discovery of bituminous shales and clays seems to be 

 spreading over the whole world, and that in New South 

 Wales promises to be a large source of wealth to those 

 concerned in it. 



In conclusion, gentlemen, I return for a moment to the 

 affairs of this Society. 



I congratulate you on what I believe to be the most 

 important step during your last session, namely, that your 

 council, aided by a small grant from Government of £175, 

 have been enabled to print the papers which had accumu- 

 lated for several years, and on their decision that for the 

 future the proceedings shall be printed at short intervals. It 

 will be fatal to our well-being and progress to let the works 

 of your members lie by unpublished. I would urge you, 

 therefore, to consider the carrying into effect this decision 

 as essential, I would almost say, to the very existence of the 

 Society. Nor must we always look to a Government grant 

 for the means of doing so, and I believe, with economy and 

 care, we shall be able to do so out of the revenue of the 

 Society. 



We cannot blink at the fact that this Society is numeri- 

 cally far less strong than it was some years back. It has 

 been passing through an ordeal like that which all societies 

 of this kind must inevitably go through in a new country. 

 When the noveltj^ wears off, then the work begins. We 

 started as the Philosophical Institute of Victoria, but we grew 

 ambitious, and obtained the privilege of styling ourselves 

 the Royal Society of Victoria. There were far more aspirants 



K 



