PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 17 



has obtained material by sounding for a section of the 

 ocean floor all the way from Adelie Land to Tasmania. 



Of all the scientific observations the meteorological are 

 likely to prove of the most direct economic value to 

 Australasia, partly as regards those taken in Antarctica, 

 but chiefly in reference to those recorded by Mr. Ainsworth 

 at Macquarie Island, Mr. H. A. Hunt, the Federal 

 Meteorologist, has emphasized the great importance of the 

 daily weather conditions " Wirelessed " to him from Mac- 

 quarie Island, for the proper understanding of Australian 

 Weather. It is hoped that as urged, both by Australian 

 and New Zealand scientists and others, the Federal Govern- 

 ment will see its way to establish the Macquarie Island 

 Meteorological Wireless Station on a permanent basis. 

 The cost in money, in toil, and alas ! in human life, of these 

 Antarctic expeditions, has of late been very great, but 

 while we mourn the loss of the brave who have given their 

 lives for the advancement of science, we cannot but feel 

 thaukful that these men have played the game so well and 

 worthily, and that the world of science will be the richer 

 for all time, because of their deeds. Surely the verdict of 

 posterity will be that this Australasian expedition of Dr. 

 Mawson has proved that in courage, hardihood, self-reliance 

 and ability the Australian can hold his own in Antarctica 

 with the men of any other nation, and that the rich harvest 

 of scientific results already reaped, justify all the suffering 

 and sacrifice this expedition has entailed. 



I wish to express my grateful thanks to Professor T. W. 

 Edgeworth David, c.m.g., f.r.s., etc., for kindly supplying 

 me with the above valuable notes on the scientific results 

 obtained in Antarctica. 



We are now looking forward with the greatest interest 

 to the return of Dr. Mawson and his six companions next 

 summer to learn of the further scientific work which is 

 being carried on in that great white land. 



B— May. 7, 1P13. 



