for the year 1885. 



XXV 



the sun. Not only do these masts and wires seriously mar the 

 architectural effect of our most costly buildings, but they 

 constitute a very perceptible source of danger by breaking 

 or sagging so low as to come in contact with passing 

 vehicles. He who succeeds in indicating a successful mode 

 of disposing of the maze of electric conductors underground 

 or out of sight will indeed be a public benefactor. 



The great question of water conservation still engages 

 earnest attention — Royal Commissions have been taking 

 evidence both in Victoria and New South Wales, while a 

 Victorian minister, accompanied by his professional adviser, 

 has visited America, and inspected the water-supply works 

 there. Various schemes are proposed or in progress under 

 the various water trusts in this colony, and some curious 

 questions of intercolonial water-right are looming. It is to 

 be hoped that our engineers will hasten slowly, and that the 

 inception of a general irrigation system will not be charac- 

 terised by the mistakes, disasters, and waste of money that 

 have accompanied some of our domestic and mining schemes 

 of water supply in days past. 



There is one work of which we may speak with unhesi- 

 tating commendation, and that is the systematic gauging of 

 our principal streams. This costs but little, and if regularly 

 carried out will in a few years supply us with data of the 

 highest value to the engineer, whether he be constructing 

 reservoirs or bridges, railways or schemes of water supply. 



AUSTRALIAN BOTANY. 



The valuable work undertaken by our State Botanist and 

 fellow-member, Baron von Mueller, continues to advance. 

 An enlarged edition of Select Plants for Industrial Culture 

 and Naturalisation will be in the Government Printer's 

 hands by the end of the year. An atlas of 80 quarto plates 

 of the Myoporince will be exhibited at the forthcoming 

 Indian and Colonial Exhibition. The Census of Australian 

 Plants will receive a^new supplement at the end of the 

 present year. The Dichotomous Key for the naming of 



