xviii President's Address 



others being merely in posse. Section A meets regularly, 

 and does good work in discussing engineering questions 01 

 the day, amongst which the Cootamundra disaster, the 

 discharge of streams, the design of beams and girders, the 

 production and distribution of electric currents may be 

 noted. 



DECEASED MEMBERS. 



The Society has lost several members by death during the 

 past year. 



Mr. Gillbee, M.R.C.S., was one of the founders of the 

 Royal Society of Victoria, and at one time held the position 

 of Vice-President. He took an active part in connection 

 with the Burke and Wills expedition, and at the time of his 

 death occupied the. position of President of the Medical 

 Board of Victoria. 



Mr. E. Davy, M.R.C.S., was one of the early investigators 

 in telegraphy, and to him is due the invention of the relay. 

 His meritorious services were long overlooked, but recently 

 his claims have been recognised. Shortly before his death 

 he contributed a paper on the " Extinction of Waves" to the 

 Transactions of the Society. 



Dr. Edward Barker was one of the earliest members of the 

 Philosophical Institute, which afterwards merged in the 

 Royal Society, his name appearing on the roll in company 

 with those of Sir H. Barkly, Sir W. A'Beckett, Sir Redmond 

 Barry, and other founders of the Institute. 



Dr. David E. Wilkie was also one of the earliest members, 

 and at one time a contributor to the Transactions. He 

 occupied the position of Chairman of the Exploration Com- 

 mittee of the Philosophical Institute. 



KINDRED INSTITUTIONS. 



The Field Naturalists' Club reports steady progress. 

 With a membership of one hundred and sixty, with well 

 attended meetings, interesting papers, and pleasant excursions 

 into the country, it seems to be in the heyday of its youth 

 and vigour. Unlike other scientific bodies whose votaries all 



