PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 6 



whole of the periodical literature in the possession of the 

 Society. The current numbers of journals are now arranged 

 ou the shelves round the basement room according to sub- 

 jects, so that all the periodicals regularly received dealing 

 with any subject may be seen at a glance. Shelving to the 

 full accommodation of the basement room has been erected 

 at a cost of £210 17s. 6d. This additional shelving, so long 

 and urgently required, will allow the considerable number 

 of foreign periodicals, hiterto stored, to be displayed and 

 made available for ready reference. While making this 

 addition to the library, it is considered advisable to 

 rearrange the whole contents according to subject matters 

 instead of according to country of origin as heretofore. On 

 the completion of this rearrangement, a catalogue will be 

 available, giving the location of all the journals in the 

 library. In the past year, 914 volumes have been bound. 



The tercentenary of Napier of Merchiston was com- 

 memorated by a lecture, on the discovery of logarithms, 

 delivered by Professor H. S. Oarslaw. This interesting 

 discourse was enjoyed by a large audience, including His 

 Excellency the State Governor. The kindness of Professor 

 Oarslaw enabled us to participate in a world-wide celebra- 

 tion in honour of this British genius. 



Popular Science lectures were given in our rooms to 

 audiences of about a hundred on the following dates, June 

 18th, "The Ore Deposits of Australia and their origin," by 

 Mr. O. A. Siissmilch; July 16th, "Oomets," by Professor 

 Cooke; and October 15th, "The Milk Supply of a Great 

 City," by Professor Chapman. To these gentlemen, the 

 Society is indebted for intellectual profit and pleasure. 



Next year we shall miss from the Council table two trusty 

 and experienced members, both Ex-Presidents, Mr. F. B. 

 Guthrie and Mr. W. M. Hamlet, who have intimated that 

 other engagements will not allow them to attend. We offer 



