8 



C. HEDLEY. 



remarkable ability, for at the early age of 15 he won an 

 open scholarship at St. Andrews. Here he gained first in 

 every subject, and left as a Master of Arts at the age of 

 19. In 1857 he received a degree in medicine from the 

 Edinburgh University. Entering the Royal Navy, he served 

 as a medical officer for thirteen years. Then he established 

 himself in practice in Sydney in 1871, where he married a 

 a daughter of Dr. Charles Nathan. He joined the Royal 

 Society in 1876, but his many public duties allowed him 

 little time to take part in our affairs. For several years he 

 was associated, first as a member, then as President, of 

 the Board of Health, where he conducted a successful 

 crusade against typhoid and plague. His administrative 

 talent ranged over a wide sphere. In 1889, he was appointed 

 to the Legislative Council, and in 1893 attained Cabinet 

 rank as Vice-President of the Executive Council. It is 

 said that the measures which ameliorated the financial 

 crisis of that year were initiated by him. He took a 

 vigorous part in the discussions, especially on the financial 

 aspect, that preceded Australian Federation. The service 

 of higher education had early enlisted his forceful person- 

 ality; in 1883 he was elected to the Senate of the University, 

 became Vice-Chancellor in 1887, and was appointed Chan- 

 cellor in 1895. To the control of University work he brought 

 an uncommon combination of talents. For the material 

 welfare of the institution was advanced by his shrewd fore- 

 sight and financial ability, while the intellectual aspect 

 was cherished by the sympathetic guidance of the scholar. 

 A man of kindly disposition, a brilliant scholar, and a master 

 of finance, his abilities were ever employed for the advance- 

 ment of the public good. Rich in honour and dignity, in 

 years and in esteem, he passed away in his seventy-ninth 

 year on August 23rd, 1914. 



Mr. William John Clunies Ross, b.Sc, f.g.s., was related 

 to the famous pioneer of Cocos Keeling Island, of the same 



