xxii President's Address for the year 1887. 



repetition, grown somewhat monotonous and wearisome, 

 while the great public event of 1887 suggested, and I think 

 you will agree, justified a special departure. I shall there- 

 fore conclude by merely mentioning that the Royal Society 

 of Victoria has held its usual meetings throughout the year ; 

 that papers of interest and value have been read and discussed ; 

 that we have welcomed to our midst the Microscopical 

 Society, which has, as I think, most wisely decided to 

 discontinue its independent existence and become a section 

 of the more comprehensive body ; that we have inaugurated 

 a systematic biological survey of the waters of Port Phillip 

 Bay, the first fruits of the results of which are open to 

 your inspection to-night ; that our joint project with the 

 Geographical Society to explore the Antarctic regions is 

 receiving a growing support, and will, we hope, in time be 

 carried into effect ; and lastly, that we deplore the loss, 

 through death, of earnest and steady workers in the cause of 

 science in the cases of Sir Julius von Haast, of Canterbury, 

 New Zealand, whose eminent services in many branches of 

 science had rendered his name famous throughout the world 

 of science ; of Dr. Iffla, of South Melbourne, one of the 

 founders of the Philosophical Society, which afterwards 

 merged into the Koyal Society of Victoria, and one of the 

 foremost promoters of the now historical Burke and Wills 

 exploring expedition ; and of Mr. A. F. Oldfield, a most 

 industrious botanist, who did much to elucidate the flora of 

 Tasmania and Western Australia, and who enjoyed the 

 thorough confidence and esteem of Sir Joseph Hooker and 

 Baron F. von Mueller. Mr. Oldfield died at an advanced 

 age, and during his closing years suffered from the sad 

 affliction of total blindness. But while death year by year 

 makes havoc in the ranks of scientific men, it is pleasing 

 to note that the gaps are as constantly being tilled by 

 young and enthusiastic workers, who carry on the labours 

 bequeathed to them, and thus the great temple of scientific 

 truth grows ever higher and more complete. 



