PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS, 35 
necessary travelling expenses would considerably exceed the whole 
year’s income of many—for the pursuit of science is not a lucrative 
one, and as a rule its followers are poor. Hence, taking all things 
into account, I do not think we could expect more than fifty 
members, if so many. And unless some 400 to 500 attended 
(between 800 and 900 entered their names for the Montreal 
session) the gathering could scarcely be considered as a meeting of 
the British Association. Therefore, instead of looking for a near 
visit from the Association, I would suggest that we should rather 
be preparing the way for issuing an invitation later on, when we 
have made suitable provision to entertain our intended Scientific 
guests ; and as‘a preliminary step I would venture to suggest, asa 
life member of the parent Association, that we might try to bring 
about a federation or union of the members of the various Scien- 
tific Societies in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand into an 
Australasian Association for the advancement of Science on the 
lines of the British Association, with a view to hold the first 
general meeting in Sydney on the hundredth anniversary of the 
Colony, when there will probably be an International Exhibition 
to celebrate that event. With the combined attractions we might 
hope to gather together a very fair number of scientific visitors to 
take part in the proceedings. 
“‘T mooted this question during the last Exhibition in Sydney 
in 1879, but matters seemed hardly ripe for it ; but now, perhaps, 
with the greater advancement in numbers and in wealth something 
might come of it in 1888. 
“‘ The details for an Association suited to the scattered Austral. 
asian Colonies necessarily offer some difficulties, but they can all 
be more or less readily overcome, and I hope to be able shortly to 
communicate with the different Societies to discuss the necessary 
arrangements, 
“A fter the first meeting the gatheri Id take pl nually, 
or every two or three weit in one e the ee towns in 
Australasia, as agreed upon by the members, 
