Anniversaty Address. 43 



are even brought on by inconsiderateness ; but it would be far 

 better to prohibit tbe possibility of such risk, than to look calmly 

 on whilst the people take their own way of running into 

 mischief. 



The meteorological conditions ought to be known well enough 

 at present to require no such comment as this. 



But it appears there are seasons when the ordinary eccen- 

 tricities of the climate are greatly exaggerated by combinations 

 of phenomena that taken together are irresistible. 



When we hear of a flock of sheep, numbering seA^eral thousands, 

 swept away without warning from an upland pasture in which no 

 regular stream or channel exists, as was the case lately in the 

 North ; or when we hear of a thousand head of cattle enclosed 

 in a paddock near a river level, from which the person in charge 

 would not release them, though warned of the coming deluge, 

 and of poor, helpless families surrounded in the night by roaring 

 torrents, deep as the roofs of their solitary habitations, it is quite 

 clear that the labours of our Eelief Ccmmittees and the supply 

 of seed wheat are very insufficient measures for the final preser- 

 vation of people from such calamities. Excelsior should be the 

 only motto for the occupier, whilst the lands of the owner are 

 getting the periodical top-dressing Providence brings about by 

 means of Inundation. 



Connected with the morale of this topic are some considerations 

 associated with the more special objects of our gatherings here . 

 and inquiries are suggested which at the present moment can only 

 partially be answered, though a full explanation may be hazarded 

 ere long. 



Everyone has noticed the peculiar conditions of the present 

 period, — Earthquakes, interrupted electric and magnetic forces, 

 displays of the Aurora, Sun spots, irregular Gales, absence of hot 

 winds, sudden Storms, Tropical rains, — disturbing the usual order 

 of summer weather, yet dressing the ground in a mantle of 

 verdure which rivals the freshness of an English spring. 



We may not be able to explain it all just yet ; but when the 

 time arrives we shall probably learn that a great disruption of 



