PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



By P. B. Guthrie, f.i.c, f.c.s., 



(Chemist, Department of Agriculture, N.S.W.; Acting 



Professor of Chemistry, The University, Sydney.) 



[Delivered to the Royal Society of N. 8. Wales, May 4, 1904.'] 



According to established usage it is my privilege to 

 submit for your information a short resume of the work 

 done by the Society during the past year. I propose to 

 add a few remarks dealing with the position of Chemistry 

 in the State. No special comment is necessary on the 

 work of the Society. Its scientific activity you will be able 

 to estimate from the long list of papers published dealing 

 with original matters, from the large number of our 

 exchanges with foreign scientific societies, and from the 

 programme of popular science lectures submitted to you. 



The number of our members has remained at about the 

 same figure as last year, a result which I think we are 

 justified in regarding as satisfactory when all things are 

 taken into consideration. 



Financial Position. — The Hon. Treasurer's Financial 

 Statement shows that the financial affairs of the Society 

 are in a fairly satisfactory condition. 



The Library. — From the balance sheet submitted this 

 evening, it will be seen that the sum of £85 3s. 4d. was 

 expended on books and periodicals, the binding amounted 

 to £1 19s. 6d. 



Exchanges. — Last year we exchanged our Journal and 

 Proceedings with 431 kindred societies, receiving in return 

 328 volumes, 1,729 parts, 207 reports, 178 pamphlets, 5 

 chronographical tables, 1 geographical map and 2 geological 

 charts ; total 2,450. 



A—May 4, 1904. 



