ANNIVEKSAKY ADDRESS. 3 



vanguard of science, and thus help in the progress of civilization, 

 which without science would be nothing. There are many resi- 

 dents in our community whose position and intelligence would 

 make them desirable members, and I cannot help thinking that 

 if the reasons for the existence of our Society and the good that 

 they might do in aiding progress were clearly before them, they 

 would not hesitate to join us. It would be well if members would 

 look round and endeavour to bring in those of their friends who 

 would be a help to us. 



It has often been put forward as a reason for not joining a 

 Society like ours, or by those already members, given as an excuse 

 for resigning, that the individual was not able to attend the meet- 

 ings and consequently drew no benefit from membership. Every 

 one who pays his subscription receives the annual volume in due 

 course, but as this is issued only some time after the completion 

 of the year and perhaps twelve months or nearly so after the first 

 papers have been read, it is a long time to wait for a printed 

 account of what is done at the meetings, and by the time it arrives 

 interest has possibly somewhat slackened in the particular subjects 

 treated. 



We cannot of course expect everybody to act upon purely dis- 

 interested motives and pay his subscription to the Society in order 

 that the Colony may advance in scientific thought, while he him- 

 self gets nothing directly out of it, so that one may consider the 

 question from the selfish point of view, and admit for the moment 

 that the objection mentioned above is valid. 



"Abstract" — To meet this objection the Council has thought 

 fit to issue an "Abstract" of Proceedings or report of the work 

 done at each monthly meeting, as soon after as it is possible to 

 compile and get the matter printed, and a copy of this is sent 

 round to every member, so that he may know what has been going 

 on even if he cannot attend the particular meeting. During the 

 past year a concise account of the proceedings at the monthly 

 meetings has been prepared and forwarded. For the excellence 

 of the work done we are indebted to the energy and ability of our 



