same footing as country Institutes, the subscriptions to which 

 are subsidised by the Government at the rate of pound per 

 pound. The augmented income which will result from this 

 decision will enable the Council to fulfil the hope expressed in 

 their last report, and to publish the transactions and proceed- 

 ings annually, and in a more complete form than was possible 

 in the volume for 1877-78. The transactions, being forwarded 

 to the leading scientific Societies of the world, afford an oppor- 

 tunity of putting before students facts in connection with the 

 natural history of this Province, which, though very valuable, 

 would otherwise be lost. The Council therefore urges upon all 

 the members that they should place upon record their own 

 observations and such as may come under their notice by 

 communicating them m the form of papers or memoranda to 

 the Society. A correspondence has taken place between the 

 Society and the Council of the Adelaide University, in which 

 the Society urged upon the Council the advisableness of adding 

 to the University curriculum lectures upon the practical 

 application to the profession of mining engineering, of the 

 subjects already included in the course of study as laid down 

 in the University Calendar, with the object of inducing the 

 more scientific, and therefore the more economic, development 

 of the mineral resources of the Province. The University 

 Council has acknowledged the importance of the subject, but, 

 after a long consideration of the Society's suggestions, has 

 come to the conclusion that financial considerations must 

 prevent any steps being taken in this direction at present. 

 Death has again removed from our midst one of our oldest 

 members. Mr. Benjamin Herschel Babbage, C.E., may almost 

 be considered to have been one of the founders of the Society, 

 having joined it on 17th January, 1853, one week after its 

 formation. He has throughout taken a deep interest in the 

 Society's work, and has several times held the office of Vice- 

 President. There has been during the year an increase of six 

 in the membership of the Society. This is a matter for con- 

 gratulation, but the Cotincil feel that there are many gentlemen 

 in the Province who are interested in the progress of science, 

 and who might materially advance the same by connecting 

 themselves with this Society, whose names do not appear on 

 our roll. They also regret that only two young men, and no 

 ladies, have availed themselves of the advantages held out by 

 the recently adopted rule forming the class of associates. In 

 conclusion, the Council expressed a hope that their successors 

 may receive the support of every member, and that the progress 

 which has characterised the Society during the last two yeare 

 may continued in the future. 



