PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. fia ix f 
gums, resins, tanning materials, and other similar products, almost 
the only ones made use of are grass-tree gum, eucalyptus oil, and 
wattle-bark. 
If such questions as “The Chemistry of the Australian Guns 
and Resins,” “The Tin Deposits of New South Wales,” “The 
Tron Ores,” and the “ Silver Ores of New South Wales,” &c., were 
thoroughly worked out, the results would doubtless be of great 
pecuniary value to the Colony ; and their investigation is really a 
matter of great public importance, and accordingly I think this 
Society should not be left, with its limited funds, to deal with 
it single-handed ; it is a work in which the Government might 
assist with propriety—special help in particular cases should be 
rendered to those who are willing to engage in such researches. 
The Imperial Government places the sum of £4,000 annually at 
the disposal of the Royal Society of London for the encourage- 
ment of scientific research, on the understanding, of course, that 
such assistance should not be used personally, but merely to defray 
the legitimate expenses of the work. Wealthy colonists who are 
not able to undertake such work themselves might, with great 
advantage to the State and credit to themselves, place funds at the 
disposal of the Council for encouraging original investigation. 
Certain of the other English Societies, like the Chemical Society 
and the British Association, also expend considerable portions of 
their own funds in encouraging research by such grants. The 
former has a fund specially collected for the purpose. 
No communications of sufficient merit were received during the 
past year to justify the award of the Society’s Medal and prize. 
The Council has accordingly invited contributions upon the same 
subjects for the year 1588, so that the list of subjects for whieh it 
offers the Society’s Medal and prize of £25, for communications 
containing the results of research or observation, is as follows :— 
Series V.—To be sent in not later than Ist May, 1886. 
No. 16.—On the Chemistry of the Australian Gums and Resins. 
The Society’s Medal and £25. 
17.—On the Tin Deposits of New South Wales. The Society’s 
Medal and £25. 
