4 ANNIYEESAEY ADDRESS. 



But the following list will sliow tliat tlie topics brought forward 

 in 1871 were of an interesting kind, and sustained the Society's 

 character : — 



(1.) " Anniversary Address," by Professor Smith, M.D., 



Vice-President. "Eemarks on the Nebula around Eta 



Argus," by H. C. Eussell, Esq, (May.) 

 (2.) " Magnetic Variations at Sydney," by H. C. E-ussell, 



Esq. " On the Deviations of Compasses in Iron Ships," 



by Eev. WiUiam Scott. (July.) 

 (3.) " On the Constitution of Matter," by Professor Pell. 



(September.) 

 (4.) "Eemarks on the Botany of Lord Howe's Island," by 



Charles Moore, Esq. " Eemarks about the Spectrum 



of the Nebula round Eta Argus," by H. C. Eussell, Esq. 



(October.) 

 (5.) " New Gruinea — a highly promising field for Settlement 



and Colonization — that such an object could be most 



easily and successfully accomplished," by Eer. J. D. 



Lang, D.D. (December.) 



EXPEDITION" TO NEW GUINEA. 



Eor a long time the idea of working rich deposits of gold in 

 New Gruinea has occupied the minds of many of our fellow- 

 colonists. And the last paper on the preceding list, owing to 

 the reputation of its author, and the arguments employed, may 

 have influenced some in undertaking what, from unforeseen causes, 

 turned out a disastrous failure. 



It would have been well had advice, given privately and publicly 

 by those who saw danger in such an undertaking, been allowed its 

 proper influence. 



In a paper contributed by me to the publication on " Industrial 

 Progress" — (On progress of gold discoveries from 1861 to 1870) — 

 I ventured to raise a warning voice, in these words : " It would be 

 folly for a band of prospectors to go out on any Quixotic expe- 

 dition without the preliminary arrangements which can only be 

 made and defended by public authority." 



