Proceedings, <&c., for 1886, 259 



The President recognised the subject as both interesting and 

 important, and invited discussion. 



Mr. Griffiths said that he had had in view the fact that England 

 and Germany were said to be contemplating further Antarctic 

 exploration, and he thought a party should be sent there for two 

 or three years to make scientific observations. 



Baron von Mueller had discussed the subject at a meeting of 

 the Geographical Society, and he suggested the establishment of a 

 station for scientific observations at Macquarie Island ; also, that 

 Australia should contribute towards Antarctic exploration. 



Mr. Ellery had been interested in Mr. Griffiths' account of the 

 rainfall at Kerguelen and other islands. He had learned something 

 of the region from the late Captain Kay, who had been there in 

 Ross' expedition, and of the island south of New Zealand from 

 Mr. Musgrave, of Cape Otway lighthouse, who had been wrecked 

 there and made some useful observations. The Antarctic climate 

 is suspected to be not nearly so severe as is commonly imagined, 

 because warm deep-sea currents are known to exist there. 



After some further remarks from the same gentleman and Mr. 

 Marks, 



Mr. A. C. Macdonald proposed that the Royal Society and the 

 Geographical Society should appoint a joint committee of three 

 members each to inquire into and report on the subject generally. 

 This was seconded by Baron von Mueller, and carried, on the under- 

 standing that the selection of the members of the committee should 

 be left to the Council. 



Mr. Ellery said that self-registering instruments could be left 

 on Antarctic land, which would obviate to a great extent the neces- 

 sity for a party residing there through the winter. 



Baron von Mueller then read a paper on " Plants Collected 

 by Mr. H. S. King in Capricornic West Australia," of which he 

 produced specimens. 



The President acknowledged the great interest and importance 

 of the contribution to knowledge. 



June 10th. 



Present, the President (in the chair) and 21 members and 

 associates. 



The following gentlemen were elected by ballot members, &c., of 

 the Society: — D. M. Davies, Esq., M.L.A., as a country member; 

 and Messrs. F. E. Jackson, Richard Matthews, and Dr. J. J. Wild, 

 as associates. 



The President announced that a large number of scientific 

 journals had been received by exchange and donation, also Vol. XX. 

 of the Encyclopcedia Brittanica. 



The President read a letter from the Secretary to the Geographical 

 Society, notifying the appointment of Baron von Mueller, Captain 



S2 



