xxii President's Address 



tricts, must, in view of recent discussions on the subject at 

 our meetings, be considered very doubtful, as must also the 

 question of the economics of irrigation in the colony, where 

 the cost of labour is comparatively so high as in Australia 

 generally. A mere glance at the rainfall tables for any 

 month shows us that the greatest precipitation takes place 

 at our highest altitudes ; our great coast range is the gather- 

 ing ground of rain-producing clouds, and it is the fall on the 

 tops of our mountains and ranges that keeps our creeks and 

 rivers running, by slowly delivering their stored-up water 

 through numerous and often perennial springs. Wherever 

 destruction of the forest has occurred on the ranges, these 

 springs have all seriously diminished, and in very many 

 instances ceased altogether, lessening the annual flow in the 

 chief arteries of the country. Therefore the reckless denud- 

 ing of our higher forests is absolutely robbing the country 

 of water. Should this destruction continue, a seriously- 

 diminished flow of our rivers, dry creeks, and scarcity of 

 water over formerly well-watered districts will become 

 inevitable. 



Time will scarcely permit of referring to numerous sub- 

 jects which mark the year's progress in science generally. 

 There are, nevertheless, one or two matters which are of 

 somewhat more than passing interest, which may justly 

 claim our attention for a few moments. It has been 

 estimated that about one-seventh of the human race die of 

 tubercular disease, or consumption as it is called, and, further, 

 that of the deaths in middle life fully one-third are caused 

 by this fatal disease. This dreadful scourge has gone on, 

 and still goes on unhindered, at least to any marked extent, 

 by any human effort, backed up by all the advanced medical 

 science of the day. By hygienic precautions and a more 

 profound knowledge of the disease, there is little doubt that 

 of late years it has been in some small degree more success- 

 fully opposed; nevertheless, those who know most of it 

 cannot but acknowledge our comparative helplessness in the 

 face of this enemy. But knowledge is strength. Con- 



