xiv President's Address 



debt incurred some years ago in altering and adding to the 

 building, and to keep the printing of the transactions up to 

 date. Our finances would, of course, be in the reverse 

 position were it not for the Government grant which 

 Parliament has liberally voted to the Society for the last 

 few years ; for, with the limited income derivable from our 

 subscribing members, we could not possibly pay current 

 expenses and for the printing of our transactions as well. 

 As it is, we have a small balance to the good to pay off the 

 remaining debentures coming due next year, amounting to 

 about £70, and to assist in paying for some very necessary 

 repairs and alterations to the building, which cannot much 

 longer be delayed. 



A few words concerning the future of the Society, and I 

 will pass on to other subjects. Your Council has received 

 applications from one or two kindred societies in Melbourne 

 for permanent accommodation within this building, and, in 

 futherance of views I expressed in my last address on this 

 subject, have favourably entertained the idea of domiciling 

 other societies devoted to science, literature, and art, under 

 this roof, and have appointed a committee to consider the 

 best means of doing so, whether by adding to the building 

 in accordance with the original plans, or by doing as our 

 architect and fellow-member, Mr. Joseph Reed, suggests — 

 namely, to continue the floor of the library over the theatre 

 and throw the whole upper floor into one chamber, while 

 the space beneath will give two more commodious rooms. 

 Whatever may be done, I trust the exterior of the building 

 will not be overlooked, for it is beginning to have a really 

 dilapidated appearance ; and if we are to have, as it appears 

 likely, a magnificent edifice in the Carlton Gardens, we 

 should for shame's sake give a little more decent appearance 

 to the outside of the house of the chief scientific body of 

 the colony. 



In considering the comparatively small number of mem- 



