xii Proceedings, <kc. 



The Secretary read a letter from Professor Neumayer, inviting the 

 members to visit the Observatory on the Flagstaff-hill, and inspect 

 the arrangements for magnetic and other observations. Professor 

 Neumayer further offered his services, gratuitously, in carrying out 

 any series of observations the Institute might desire. The reading 

 of the letter was warmly greeted by the members, and thanks were 

 voted to Professor Neumayer. 



The Rev. Mr. Bleasdale read a paper on the establishment of sec- 

 tions in the Institute, of which the following is the substance : — 



" In societies whose aims and objects are cognate with, or analo- 

 gous to, those of the Philosophical Institute of Victoria, the arrange- 

 ment of the members in sections has been found to work well, and to 

 have conduced largely to their efficiency. Were it desirable to refer 

 to instances of this in Europe, the British Association of Arts might 

 be adduced. 



" Numbering as the Philosophical Institute now does, nearly 300 

 members, and receiving valuable additions to that number every 

 month, I consider that the time has arrived when this Institute 

 should introduce the same principle ; and, for the better effecting 

 all its important objects, enable the members to distribute and 

 arrange themselves in as many sections as shall appear advisable. 



" I deem this the more necessary now, because I firmly believe 

 that union is strength, and that, in this instance, the parcelling out 

 of the members under such heads as they feel are most congenial to 

 their tastes and pursuits, will not only not be division, but the 

 attainment of union itself. We shall thus know our available 

 strength in any one department. In the course of this paper, which 

 I mean to make as brief as possible, it will be my purpose to draw 

 attention to this subject, rather than to attempt to submit a complete 

 scheme for your adoption. I feel that this is a matter on which the 

 Institute should take action, and that I shall be consulting the 

 general good by throwing out any suggestions that seem to me likely 

 to be of benefit, but leaving the ultimate moulding of the whole to 

 the wisdom of the collective body. By adopting this course, I trust 

 I shall best secure my main object, viz., to render the Institute as 

 efficient as possible, by giving opportunity and direction to the talent 

 within it. 



" I consider that there is at present a large amount of talent lying 

 dormant, or nearly so, among us. And I do not wonder at it ; 

 because it does not at all times fall to the lot of every individual 

 member to be able to give sufficient time and attention to work up 

 a subject, though he may desire to do so. Now, under the system 

 of sections, all this scattered talent, and all these desires, which 

 would terminate in the individual's own mind, might, by a little 

 judicious management, become valuable property in the hands of a 

 section. 



