PROCEEDINGS. 383 
Sydney, who had been a member of the Council since 1880, and 
Hon. Treasurer from 1885. 
The Rev. Dr. W. Wyatt Git called attention to the reprint 
by the Government Printer of Mr. L. E. Threkeld’s “ An Aus- 
tralian Language, as spoken by the Awabakal, the people of 
Awaba, or Lake Macquarie, being an account of their language, 
traditions, and customs,” and gave an account of the steps which 
led up to the Government undertaking the work. He eulogised 
the work of Dr. Fraser, who had edited the book as a labour of 
love. | 
The certificates of three candidates were read for the third time, 
of three for the second time, and of two for the first time. 
The following gentlemen were duly elected ordinary members 
of the Society :— 
Flint, Charles Alfred, m.a. ; Stanmore. 
Hodgson, Charles George ; Sydney. 
Mollison, James Smith, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.; Sydney. 
Twenty-five volumes, seventy-four parts, fourteen reports, seven 
pamphlets, and one meteorological chart received as donations 
since the last meeting were laid upon the table and acknowledged. 
The Society’s bronze medal and cheque for £25 were presented 
to Mr. Alexander G. Hamilton, Master of the Public School at 
Mount Kembla, for his essay ‘‘ On the effect which settlement in 
Australia has produced upon indigenous vegetation.” The Presi- 
dent congratulated Mr. Hamilton on his contribution, who pro- 
ceeded to read the second division of his essay, the first portion 
having been read at a previous meeting. In summing up the 
paper, Mr. Hamilton said that he was of opinion that the causes 
of the destruction of native flora were—(1) the destruction of 
various timbers, and in cultivating the soil or improving the 
pastures ; (2) by the alteration of surface drainage, by the surface 
being broken either designedly or by cattle ; (3) by the overstock- 
‘ing of the natural pastures without any means being resorted to 
for renovating them, and by the destruction and modification of 
