XXXV. 



will be asked to certain alterations in the rules necessitated by 

 the former resolutions of the Society upon this subject. The 

 plan has already produced good results, and it is hoped that 

 when in full operation it will lead to the accumulation of a 

 large number of facts which would otherwise have remained 

 unknown to the scientific world. The Government subsidy, 

 which has been received for the first time this year, will assist 

 in meeting the increased expenditure incurred by the enlarge- 

 ment of the sphere of action of the Society, whose usefulness 

 will only be limited by the numbers of the subscribers to its 

 funds. 



The " Transactions and Proceedings " for 1878-9 were issued 

 early in the session, and the greater portion of the volume for 

 the session now closing is already printed. It is satisfactory 

 to know that the value of the Society's work is increasingly 

 appreciated by the learned Societies of other countries, as is 

 shown by the increase in the number of such Societies which 

 have responded to our invitation to exchange publications. 



In accordance with a resolution of the Society, the Council 

 has taken the necessary steps to obtain permission to assume 

 the title of " The Royal Society of South Australia." Her 

 Majesty has graciously acceded to our request, and the Society 

 has thus been placed upon an equal footing with similar 

 Societies in the other colonies. 



While the work of the Society has been steadily developing 

 the Council regret to report that the number of members has 

 not increased, being now 102 as against 105 at the last annual 

 meeting. Thirteen names have been added to the roll in all 

 classes. One member, Mr. A. Murray, whose connection with 

 the Society dated from the year 1858, has been removed by 

 death; eight have resigned; and seven have been struck off 

 the roll for non-payment of their subscriptions. 



In a comparatively small community, such as that of Ade- 

 laide, there must of necessity be a very limited number of 

 individuals sufficiently conversant with any one branch of 

 science to take an intelligent interest in the details which make 

 up the bulk of the papers submitted to the Society, and it is 

 worth while to consider whether it would not be well to supple- 

 ment the more technical papers with lectures of a more 

 popular character. Such lectures would not be suitable for 

 publication in our proceedings, but would greatly increase the 

 interest taken in our monthly meetings, and might be the 

 means of assisting many in their pursuit of science. 



The balance-sheet shows that the finances of the Society are 

 in a flourishing position, the balance in hand last year being 

 £127, and this year about £187 ; but the cost of printing the 

 Transactions will absorb a larger sum than before. 



