for the year 1886. xv 



which has been welcomed heartily in all quarters, be carried 

 out, it will do much good in ways too numerous to mention. 



POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF OUR SOCIETY. 



Under this head I have nothing very striking to relate. 

 Our meetings are fairly well attended, our library steadily 

 grows, and our published Transactions are in request by 

 kindred societies in all parts of the world. 



It was recently pointed out that the lightning conductors 

 in use in Melbourne were in many cases very defective, and 

 in some an actual source of danger. The Society thereupon 

 printed and circulated one thousand copies of the code of 

 rules drawn up by a conference of eminent electricians, 

 physicists, and architects, that met in London about four 

 years since. It is to be hoped that this action will result in 

 a reform that is much needed. 



Valuable papers on Geology, Zoology, Botany_, and other 

 subjects have been discussed during the past year at the 

 general meetings, while many questions of engineering have 

 been considered by Section A, the branch of the society 

 specially concerned with such matters. 



A suggestion having been made by Professor Huxley, 

 President of the Royal Society, for the affiliation of societies 

 having similar aims, a correspondence has taken place, 

 which it is hoped may eventually lead to some arrangement 

 whereby the various local societies may receive some recog- 

 nition and encouragement from the great parent body. 



We have to record the death of Mr. J. B. Were, C.M.G., 

 who was one of the earliest promoters of our Society, and 

 who, for his services, was elected an honorary life member. 

 He died on the 6th December, 1885, at the ripe age of 

 seventy-seven. 



ASTRONOMICAL NOTES. 



The past year has not been remarkable for astronomical 



events, except the discovery of numerous small comets, 



This fact is probably attributable to the more perfect 



A 



