ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. XXXIX. 



beams of the same width and containing the same area of 

 bars on the tension side, but varying in depth. In all cases 

 the reinforced beams were from 5J to 10 times stronger 

 than the plain beam, and the deflections of the beams 

 before fracture were enormously greater in the reinforced 

 beams. The paper consists of eight tables of results and 

 20 diagrams. 



A discussion ensued in which the following gentlemen 

 took part, Messrs. Henry Deane, L. Whitfeld, Prof. David, 

 Messrs. O. O. Burge, F. Gummow, G. R. Oowdery, and 

 C. A. Benbow. Prof. Warren replied. 



3. "The fallacy of assuming that a wet year in England 



will be followed by a wet year in Australia," by H. O. 

 Russell, b.a., c.m.g., f.r.s. 



It is a widespread idea that if abundant rain falls in 

 England there will be an abundant rainfall in Australia in 

 the following year. By means of a diagram showing the 

 rainfall in England and in Sydney for a number of years in 

 succession, it is shown that as a matter of fact this seldom 

 occurs. Amongst the more striking examples shown by 

 the diagram are the following. In the years 1880 - 85 rain 

 was very abundant in England, and during the whole of 

 that period we were suffering from a very severe drought. 

 Again the years 1894-1900 show abundance of rain in 

 England, and Australia during these years has been suffer- 

 ing a severe drought. 



A question was asked by Mr. D. Garment. 



4. "On the presence of platinum and iridium metals in 



Meteorites," by Professor Liversidge, ll.d., f.r.s. 



At the September meeting of the Society the author 



described the occurrence of gold in meteorites ; in certain 



cases the gold is accompanied by one or more of the 



platinum and iridium metals. The Boogaldi meteorite 



