4 R. H. CAMBAGE. 



General Scientific Matters. 



Australasian Association for the Advancement of 

 Science. — A most successful meeting of the above Society 

 was held in Melbourne last January, at which the papers 

 presented were numerous, varied and full of interest. 

 Several profitable excursions were made on different 

 scientific quests, and the whole meeting demonstrated in a 

 marked degree, the great value of these gatherings from 

 the point of view that scientists from all parts of Australasia 

 are enabled to meet in an informal way at the various 

 functions, to the mutual advantage of all concerned. 



British Association for the Advancement of Science — 

 Australian Meeting. — During the coming year the arrange- 

 ments should be advanced towards completion, for the 

 holding in August 1914 of what will be the most important 

 scientific gathering ever assembled in Australia. It is well 

 to be reminded of this in order that we may use our utmost 

 endeavours to make this meeting an unqualified success. 



Under the general supervision of Professor David, who 

 is Chairman of the New South Wales Executive Committee, 

 and who was requested by the Prime Minister to under- 

 take local arrangements, various committees are already 

 at work preparing for the reception of the coming scientists, 

 and amongst other matters which the Science Committee 

 have in hand is that of the preparation of a New South 

 Wales handbook of about 500 pages, dealing with the social 

 and natural science of the State, and which is intended for 

 distribution amongst members of the British Association. 

 A Federal Council has been formed, with the Prime Minister 

 as Chairman, and is composed of delegates from all the 

 States. 



It has been arranged by the Federal Council, with the 

 consent of the Prime Minister, that a Commonwealth hand- 

 book for Australia shall be prepared by the Federal Statis- 



