b R. H. CAMBAG-E. 



containing over forty names, from which, together with 

 those from the other States, a final selection may be made. 



Government Astronomer and Chair of Astronomy. — 

 Since the death in 1908, of Mr. H. A. Lenehan, a former 

 President of this Society, New South Wales has been with- 

 out a Government Astronomer. The filling of this position 

 during the past year by the appointment of Professor Cooke 

 is a matter for congratulation by all scientists. Of equal 

 satisfaction is the fact, that a Chair of Astronomy has 

 been established at the Sydney University, in charge of 

 which Professor Cooke has also been placed. Astronomy 

 ranks as one of the oldest and most exalted of the sciences, 

 and it is gratifying to see that our State, is taking its place 

 with other countries in the study and the teaching of this 

 noble science. 



Chair of Botany. — In the establishment of a Chair of 

 Botany, which has been placed under the direction of Pro- 

 fessor Lawson, a distinctly progressive step has been made. 

 Both as a scientific and as a commercial asset, the flora of 

 New South Wales is most valuable, and quite apart from 

 the advancement to science, culture and refinement, which 

 a love for the study of our native flora must promote, there 

 are also the many economic products amongst its timbers, 

 barks, essential oils, etc., that require to be further investi- 

 gated and studied before all their valuable properties can 

 be known and applied to their fullest advantage. An 

 advance, therefore, such as this, in the scope and facilities 

 for training Australian botanists, merits our best appreci- 

 ation. 



Chair of Organic Chemistry. — Intertwined to a large 

 extent with an extended study of botany is that of organic 

 chemistry, and as time goes on, the phyto-chemist and 

 vegetable physiologist will render more and more assist- 



