lxiv President's Address 



the singularly varied and exact knowledge of many branches 

 of knowledge which he brought to bear on the discussions 

 of the various points of scientific interest which were brought 

 forward from time to time, exerted a most powerful and 

 beneficial influence not only upon the Royal Society, but 

 upon the progress of learning and research in the colony 

 generally. Science and art have lost in him a consistent 

 and enlightened friend, ever ready to sacrifice his personal 

 convenience, and to freely use his purse, and his position, for 

 their advancement. 



Owing to the strain on the energies of the members 

 of the Society, produced by the harassing details of the 

 Exploration affairs, the number of papers read at our meetings 

 last year was not so large as in some former ones, but several 

 of great interest were read, and interesting discussions 

 followed. 



At our first ordinary Meeting, which took place in June, 

 a highly suggestive paper was read by Mr. R. Brough 

 Smyth, " On the Advisableness of Collecting and Exhibiting 

 in Europe the Mineral and other Products of the Colony," 

 and in it the probable good effect of such exhibitions of a 

 permanent kind in England and on the Continent in pro- 

 moting emigration of persons skilled in developing or using 

 such materials, as well as by attracting the attention of 

 capitalists and manufacturers to our products, were dwelt on 

 with much force. 



At the same meeting, Dr. Macadam read a paper on 

 " Dalton's Views on the Atomic Theory," which gave rise to 

 a lengthen discussion on the modern theories on the sub- 

 ject, in the course of which some new lines of investigation 

 were suggested by other members. 



At the October meeting following, Mr. Daintree read a 

 paper entitled, "Geological Notes made during a Three 

 Months' Leave of Absence on the Upper Burdekin, Queens- 



