it has an existence. At any rate, it is easy to retort upon cavillers that 

 the results would be more generally satisfactory if the Society received 

 more general support." Our numbers have not correspondingly increased 

 with the increase of population, and it has only been in the last two years 

 that any sensible augmentation has been effected; nevertheless, the 

 eighty members of to-day represent a much smaller percentage of the 

 aristocracy of intellect than the sixty members of ten years ago. Is it 

 apathy or indifference that causes so many to stand aloof, who from their 

 profession or position in society should support us by their influence and 

 subscription ? Or have our meetings been of so desultory a character as 

 to be repellent ? To them I would appeal for the rectifying of the evils 

 of a one-sided policy, for be it remembered that the improvement of 

 any art or science varies directly with the number of intelligent persons 

 engaged therein. 



Our Relationship to the South Australian Institute i s 

 somewhat anomalous. By the Statutes and Regulations of Incorporation 

 we are — 



1. Allowed an independent action. 



2. Required to contribute a sum towards the working expenses of 



of the Institute. 



3. Entitled to the use of a room, and also to the services of one 



or more of the oflicers of the Institute, at such times and in 

 such manner as may be agreed upon with the Board of 

 Governors. 



4. And we have virtually resigned all claim to property actually 



acquired, for it is enacted that the property of the Society 

 preserved in the room of the Institute cannot be permanently 

 removed nor otherwise disposed of without the consent of the 

 Board of Governors. 



Thus on the one hand we pay £12 per annum for the use of a room, 

 and resign all rights to the property we have acquired by gift or pur- 

 chase ; whilst on the other, we receive such trivial assistance as the 

 addressing of a few postal cards once a month, and have possibly the 

 power to recovery penalties ; and it would seem also that the Board of 

 Governors " have the power out of the funds placed at their disposal to 

 make a grant to any Society so incorporated in aid of the ppecial objects 

 of such Society . " By common consent, this Society has been excluded 

 from participating in grants to incorporated Societies, but it is not so 

 expressed by the terms of the Act ; and the regulation which gives the 



