Although most anxious to encourage and promote sericul- 

 ture, the Council find it difficult to advance this industry in a 

 really practical manner, so as to be of benefit to the colony. 

 Baron Yon Mueller has however, as well as the Society, supplied 

 many parts of the Colony with white mulberry plants, and when 

 these come into bearing, silk growing will, they hope, afford 

 profitable employment to the industry of the Colony. The 

 .Society will be happy at all times to furnish every information 

 in their power connected with sericulture. 



The Council were of opinion that the services in the cause 

 of pisciculture, rendered by Sir .Robert Officer and Mr Morton 

 Allport, of Tasmania, deserved some recognition at their hands, 

 and they therefore awarded to both these gentlemen the silver 

 medal of the Society. Their bronze medal has also been pre- 

 sented to Captain Babot, of the Hydaspes, for his enterprize in 

 bringing out sea turtle. 



In conclusion, the Council are glad to state that the condi- 

 tion of the Society is sound and prosperous, and that they only 

 require more liberal co-operation from the public to enable them, 

 with the assistance of the small but efficient staff at the Royal 

 Park, to produce great results in the cause of acclimatisation ; 

 and would again inform their friends throughout the country, 

 that donations of native animals or birds are always extremely 

 useful, not only for the zoological collection at the Royal Park 

 but for purposes of exchange with other countries. 



Since the last report the following , gentlemen have been 

 elected as members of Council, and their appointment requires 

 to be confirmed at this meeting, viz., Charles Ryan, Esq., and 

 Frederick Godfrey, Esq. In conformity with the rules, the fol- 

 lowing members retire from the Council, being the three who 

 have attended the fewest meetings ; but are eligible for re- 

 election: — The Hon. Dr. Dobson, T. J. Sumner, Esq., and John 

 Steavenson, Esq. The balance sheets for the past year, audited 

 by Mr. Rucker, public accountant, are laid before the meeting, 



