8 PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 
years ago; his attention was not particularly drawn to matters 
with which the Society is interested, he being more closely 
identified with politics, but he devoted a good deal of time to 
educational matters. He was associated for fourteen years with 
the late Professor Smith as a member of the National Board 
for Education, for some years he was a Trustee of the Sydney 
Grammar School, a member of the University Senate, and he was 
the first Minister for Justice and Public Instruction. Although 
he never took an active part in the work of this Society, that he 
was willing to assist in the advancement of learning is shown by 
his founding a scholarship at the University for the encourage- 
ment of the study of legal science. 
The Society has also lost by death two other members, in Mr. 
Douglas Helsham and Mr. William Wallis, the latter an old 
colonist, whose name deserves to be recorded as the contractor for 
the first railway in the Colony, and for the encouragement he gave 
to art. 
I have the pleasure to congratulate you upon the very satis- 
factory state of the Society’s affairs. It is true that the number 
of members has undergone a slight decrease, but the diminution is 
immaterial, and will doubtless be made up during the present year 
by the election of new members. 
The number of members on the roll on April 30th, 1885, was 
494; during the past year twenty-seven new members have been 
elected, and two names have been restored to the roll. Against 
this increase we have lost eight members by death, ten have left the 
~ Colony or resigned, ten names have been struck off the roll for 
non-payment of subscriptions, and three elections have been cal- 
celled for the same reason, leaving on April 30th last an effective — 
list of 492. In addition there are twenty honorary and five cor 
responding members, 
As shown by the Hon, treasurer’s balance sheet, our financial 
affairs are also in a very satisfactory state. It is true we have not 
@ very large cash balance in hand, but that, I think, is what we 
should avoid. Once the Society had managed to save some £400, 
