PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 6 



these gentlemen for the profitable and enjoyable informa- 

 tion imparted at them. 



The Society had, on the 13th March, the pleasure of 

 entertaining Sir Ernest Shackle ton on his return from the 

 Antarctic, after the rescue of those members of his 

 expedition who had been unavoidably left behind. 



During the year I have, as your representative, attended 

 several meetings of the Board of Visitors of the Observatory; 

 one result of our recommendations has been that the 

 Government Astronomer is to be provided with a suitable 

 residence at the Observatory, it being evident that for 

 some time to come funds will not be available for the erec- 

 tion of the new Observatory on the site selected for it at 

 Wahroonga. 



I am sure that in offering my thanks to the Hon. Secre- 

 taries, Mr. R. H. Oambage, L.s., f.l.s., and Mr. J. H. 

 Maiden, i.s.o., f.r.s., as well as to the Hon. Treasurer, 

 Dr. H. G. Chapman, for their constant and generous 

 services in the interests of the Society, I am expressing 

 your feelings as well as my own. 



It was with great pleasure that wereceived the announce- 

 ment that the "David Syme Prize for Scientific Research" 

 had been awarded to Mr. O. Hedley, f.l.s., for his zoological 

 work. This high distinction has only been awarded nine 

 times, and it is a source of satisfaction to us all that five 

 of the recipients are members of this Society. 



On April 30th, 1916, there were 299 members on the roll, 

 of whom 28 were Honorary Members; during the year we 

 have lost by death and resignations 10, including one 

 Honorary member, and four names have been removed from 

 the rolls, 31 new members have been elected, the member- 

 ship now being 316, including 27 Honorary Members. The 

 losses by death are : — 



