ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1858. 



Fourth Report of the Council of the Philosophical Institute 

 of Victoria, presented to the Members at the General Meeting 

 held on the 8th of December, 1 858. 



The Council presents to the Philosophical Institute its fourth 

 annual report, for the year ending 1st December, 1858. 



As regards the number of its members, the Institute occupies 

 nearly the same position as at the close of last year — the number of 

 life members, and of members whose subscriptions for 1858 have 

 been paid, being 236. In tins number are not included those mem- 

 bers absent from the colony, whose names have been placed by the 

 council on a suspense list. 



The financial position of the Institute is satisfactory. On the 

 balance-sheet, audited and made up to 2nd December, 1858, there 

 appears a balance in favour of the Institute of £1,350 19s. 6d. against 

 £1,190 4s. lid. at the corresponding period of last year. The expenses 

 of the Institute have therefore been more than met by its ordinary 

 revenue, and these expenses have not been at all below the average 

 during the past year. 



Besides the above amount, which may be fairly considered availa- 

 ble for building purposes, the treasurer has yet to receive the sum of 

 £2000, recently voted by the Legislative Assembly for this object. 



At the twelve ordinary meetings of the Institute there have been 

 read before the Institute twenty papers and other communications of 

 varied scientific interest. Of these, twelve will shortly appear in 

 the forthcoming volume of " Transactions." 



The following committees have been in operation during the past 

 year : — the Observatory, the Exploration, the Sections, the Museum, 

 the British Song Bird, the Murray Cod, and the Union of Scientific 

 Societies. The Observatory Committee has failed as yet in inducing 

 the Government to take any steps for the erection of a large re- 



