ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 
By H. C. RussELt, B.A., 0.M.G., F.R.S. 
a) 
[ Delivered to the Royal Society of N.S. Wales, May 4, 1892. | 
Tus is the third time that I have had the honour of addressing 
you from the President’s Chair, and I can only regret that I am 
unable to bring to the duties which devolve upon me the qualifi- 
cations which, in my opinion, the President of a large and 
influential Society like ours should possess. 
I had proposed to myself as a subject for this address a short 
resumé of the results of scientific work in New South Wales 
during the past year, but I soon found that the subject was far 
too large, unless I could count upon your undivided attention for 
three or four hours. That, of course was out of the question, and 
I have made an effort to condense it to the ordinary limits of an 
address from this Chair, and, I fear, that in many places I have 
been obliged to omit much that would, under other circumstances 
have been interesting to you and most valuable as a record for 
reference. Itis a matter for congratulation that our Society 
maintains its position, and is increasing its influence, and that in 
spite of the general depression which has brought about the 
resignation of many members, we have not only kept up, but. 
considerably increased our members during the past year. 
We have lost by death one honorary and eleven ordinary mem- 
bers. Eleven have resigned, and no less than eighteen have. 
ceased to be members by non-payment of subscriptions, making a 
loss of forty contributing members. On the other hand we 
have gained by election sixty-one new members; so that while: 
we had on the roll at the end of last year four hundred and fifty- 
seven, they number to-night four hundred and seventy-eight. 
Of those who have passed away several were of world-wide fame: 
and held in very high esteem amongst us. 
A—May 4, 1892. 
