xliv Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society . 



you will see, almost to the doubling of the membership — a fact 

 which I am sure will be a cause of unalloyed satisfaction to you all. 

 Personally I am most grateful to all those who have aided in 

 bringing about this pleasing result. In the matter of our publica- 

 tions there seems also to be reason for congratulating ourselves. 

 In the period referred to there have appeared one very handsome 

 volume of 524 pages with eight plates, and another of about half 

 the size, the result being the completion of the 7th and 8th volumes 

 of the Society's Transactions. In addition to this the first part of 

 Volume IX. is ready for issue, the second part of the same volume 

 has been passed for the press, and so also has been the first part 

 of Volume X. According to the secretary this means something 

 like 1,050 pages of print. The quality of the matter, of course, 

 varies, but there can be little doubt that all of it was worthy of 

 permanent record. In ordinary circumstances it would be invidious 

 on an occasion like the present to refer specially to an individual 

 paper ; the circumstances, however, are not quite ordinary, and I 

 therefore feel sure of being excused when I recall to you the fact 

 that one entire volume, and that by far the largest, is the unaided 

 work of Mr. Peringuey. I may also be permitted to repeat what I 

 had to say at the time of its appearance, viz., that it is an enduring 

 monument of unflagging industry and devotion to science, a credit 

 alike to this Society and to the institution of which he is the assistant 

 director. 



In regard to the state of our finances, a mere word or two will 

 suffice. Naturally the large amount of printing which has been 

 done made serious inroads on our savings; but, thanks to the 

 increase in membership, to the increased sale of the Transactions, 

 and to the abolition of expenditure on rent and salaries, the effects 

 of these inroads are not now perceptible. In fact, on June 30th 

 our balance was somewhat better than at the corresponding date in 

 1895, and it stands to-night at the very respectable figure of 

 £315 7s. 5d. Such, in brief, ladies and gentlemen, is the account 

 which the office-bearers of the Society have to render of their 

 stewardship. Having given it, I wish now to direct your attention 

 for a few additional minutes to the objects and aims of the Society, 

 and to offer for your consideration a few suggestions as to how these 

 objects and aims may be successfully promoted. 



When originally formed the Society had for its express purpose 

 the promotion of research and the recording of results ; and 

 apparently its founders were prompted to their action merely by 

 a love for truth, and by a conviction that it was part of their duty 

 as citizens to use their talents in any direction that might promise 



