part 1] ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. lxxxiii 



by the accumulation of beach and estuarine deposits at the lowest 

 levels in the creeks and bays. 



In the aggregate these minor changes of late date are consider- 

 able ; but they do not materially affect the proportional importance 

 of Glacial events in modelling the land-surface as we know it. 

 From the human standpoint, the economic consequence of these 

 events, particularly in respect to agriculture, has been perhaps of 

 even more importance than their physical consequence ; and I 

 believe that a study of the Racial History of the associated Drift- 

 lands as a distinctive region would yield some interesting results. 

 At any rate, the old Saxon and Danish invaders seem to have found 

 these lands particularly attractive and home-like. 



Here I must leave my subject, aware that my treatment of it 

 has been desultory and unavoidably sketchy ; but, if I have suc- 

 ceeded in bringing before you the broad general effects of the ice- 

 sheets and their concomitants in the shaping of Our Land, my aim 

 will have been achieved. 



Now I have reached the end of my duty as your President, a 

 duty which I shall ever recall with gratification. The two years 

 past have been so tremendous in events, that we have found it diffi- 

 cult at times to bring our thoughts to bear upon the placid studies 

 for which we are associated. Just at the beginning of my term 

 our young men at the Front were resolutely enduring the fiercest 

 blast of the War Storm ; and our hearts were with them. Gradually 

 there came relief ; and then the swift course to victory. The 

 troublous days of reckoning are not yet ended, but I count myself 

 fortunate indeed that my tenure of office should have embraced the 

 coming of Peace, and that its termination should be under happier 

 auspices than its beginning. 



Before quitting the Chair, I desire to offer my thanks to the 

 Council for its constant support ; to my fellow-officers for their 

 indispensable aid and advice ; to the permanent staff for their 

 assistance at all times ; and to the Fellows of the Society for their 

 tolerance of my shortcomings. Under the changing conditions of 

 our days, the affairs of the Society will need skilful guidance ; and 

 in electing my successor you have chosen one who, by his long 

 experience and keen interest in all that pertains to the Society, is 

 excellently qualified for the responsibility. I am sure that our 

 welfare and progress will be safeguarded under the rule of 

 Mi. R. D. Oldham. 



