xii President's Address 



PROGRESS AND PKOSPECTS OF THE SOCIETY. 



The Society is now approaching the termination of its 

 twenty-sixth year, and it is pleasant to be able to tell you 

 that it is in a prosperous condition and full of vitality. The 

 ordinary income, added by the grant annually voted to us 

 by the Parliament, now places us in a satisfactory position- 

 The Society is not only solvent, but it has a small reserve 

 for current requirements. Our buildings are in good order 

 and repair ; we have added to our library accommodation, 

 and had a large number of our valuable books bound, so as 

 to be accessible to our members. The increase of the 

 Society, and more especially the want of more space for our 

 large meetings and gatherings like this, has already given 

 rise to a wish for more accommodation in the shape of a 

 large lecture or assembly room, and I' have no doubt the 

 Council will take the matter into serious consideration 

 before our next session. Our last session was a busy one, as 

 will be seen by reference to our twentieth volume, issued in 

 May last, and it is gratifying to note how promptly our 

 secretaries have placed the volume for 1883 before our 

 members. 



DECEASED MEMBERS. 



I regret I have to record the loss by death during the 

 past year of three members and one associate of the Society 

 — viz., Mr. W. C. Watts, C.E., late city surveyor ; the Kev. 

 J. I. Bleasdale, F.G.S., who died in San Francisco on the 

 2nd August ; Mr. W. Detmold, died on 4th August ; and Mr. 

 J. F. Bailey, who died in July. 



AUSTRALIAN BOTANY. 



I have usually availed myself of the occasion of our 

 annual gathering to inform you very briefly of any matters 

 of interest in connection with the past year's history of the 

 several public scientific and technical departments, as well 



