511 



Mr. A. M. Lea, F.E.S. (the retiring Vice-Chairman), the 

 resignation of Mr. Stanley Stokes (who was for some years 

 the Hon. Treasurer and latterly a member of the Committee) 

 and that of Mr. W. A. S. Cathcart (Hon. Librarian), through 

 his continued absence from the State. The Committee desires 

 to express its appreciation of the valuable services which these 

 gentlemen have rendered to the Section. 



It is pleasing to note that the membership continues to 

 increase, eighteen new members having joined the Society 

 during the year. 



The last Annual Meeting — the thirtieth — was held on 

 Tuesday, September 16, 1913, w;hen the following officers 

 were elected for the ensuing year: — Chairman, Mr. E. H. 

 Lock; V ice-Chairmen , Messrs. A. M. Lea and Mr. W. J. 

 Kimber ; Honorary Tr easier er, Mr. B. B. Beck; Honorary 

 Librarian, Mr. W. A. S. Cathcart; Honorary Secretary, Mr. 

 Percival Runge ; Honorary Assistant Secretary, Miss E. Hock- 

 ing; Committee — Dr. R. S. Rogers, Prof. T. G. B. Osborn, 

 M.Sc, Messrs. W. H. Selway, S. Stokes, R. Llewellyn, and 

 J. W. Mellor, and Mesdames R. S. Rogers and J. F. Mellor; 

 Honorary Auditors, Messrs. W. D. Reed and A. W. Drum- 

 mond. 



A considerable number of exhibits was shown at this 

 meeting, including an interesting collection of sea birds' eggs 

 obtained in Queensland, Bass Straits, and St. Vincent Gulf 

 by Mr. J. W. Mellor, who explained their origin and men- 

 tioned many facts about the peculiar habits of our ocean birds. 

 A piece of raw-hide cable and a copper fastening, obtained 

 from the old historic ship, "Nelson," that a few years ago 

 was converted into a coal hulk in Sydney Harbour, and a fossil 

 pearl shell, obtained in Western Australia, were shown by Mrs. 

 J. F. Mellor, and several mineral specimens, as well as fossil 

 coral, found in the far North, were shown by Miss Roberts. 



On October 21, 1913, Dr. J. C. Verco delivered an 

 instructive address on "A Trip to St. Francis Island." The 

 island was small ; it having a length of three miles by a width 

 varying from three-quarters to two miles. It has a base of 

 granite, surmounted by imposing limestone and sandstone 

 cliffs. The surface soil is very fertile, and capable of growing 

 the finest vegetables and cereals, while the mean temperature 

 was considerably below that of Adelaide. Dr. Verco also spoke 

 of the natural history investigations he conducted on the 

 island, and exhibited a large number of shells, insects, and 

 reptiles he had collected. 



On October 18, 1913, an illustrated address was delivered 

 on "Radium and Radio-activity" by Mr. Percival Runge, who 



