2 WILLIAM M. HAMLET. 



practice of my predecessors, I address you on the status and con- 

 dition of the Society, and afterwards discuss certain topics that I 

 think will not be without interest to you. 



Roll of members. — The number of members on the roll on the 

 30th April, 1899, was three hundred and fifty-seven. Thirty-two 

 new members have been elected during the past year and four 

 names restored to the roll, we have however lost by death six 

 ordinary and two Honorary members, and thirteen by resignation. 

 There is thus left a total of three hundred and seventy-four on 

 April 30th, 1900. 



Obituary. — The following is a list of members who have died 

 during the year 1899 : — 



Honorary Members : 

 Elected 1895, Bunsen, Professor Robert Wilhelm. 

 „ 1875, M'Coy, Sir Frederick. 



Ordinary Members. 



1886, Collingwood, Dr. David. 

 1896, Elwell, P. B. 



1887, MacAllister, Dr. J. F. 

 1878, Maitland, Duncan Mearns. 

 1859, Watt, Charles. 

 1878, Wilkinson, Rev. S. 



Mr. Charles Watt left England in the Sydney in 1854 — the 

 first steamer that started for Australia, but after several attempts 

 in commencing the voyage, put back and eventually came out in 

 a sailing ship. On his arrival in the mother colony, he became 

 interested in the manufacture of soap and candles, and afterwards, 

 in the distillation of the shales found at Hartley Vale, on the 

 Blue Mountains. In the absence of Professor Smith, he lectured 

 for some time on Chemistry at the Sydney University. He 

 practised as an Analyst in Sydney from 1870, and during the 

 administration of Sir John Robertson he was appointed 

 Government Analyst, a chemical laboratory being built for him on 

 the site now occupied by the Department of Public Health, but 



