X. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 



The alterations to the following rules proposed at the Annual 

 General Meeting, 4th May, 1898, were agreed to, viz.: — Rules IV, 

 XII., XIV, XV, XXI, XXV, and XXXVI, and the following 

 amendment to Rule XLI. was carried, viz.: — "To insert instead 

 of the words 'two successive general meetings,' the words 'one 

 ordinary general meeting, and confirmed at the next Annual 

 General Meeting.' " 



THE FOLLOWING PAPERS WERE READ : 



1. "Paper on Aeronautics" by Lawrence Hargrave. 



The author describes at length, with scale drawing and photo- 

 graphs, a kite that under favourable circumstances will soar 

 horizontally and at various acute angles to the direction of the 

 wind. The kite is of the well known cellular form but in addition 

 has a bent piece of vulcanite nearly midway between the cells. 

 This is called the propeller, and its effect is to create a vortex 

 that acts on its under and concave side. The vortex pushes 

 against the propeller in the same manner that the ball of a water 

 nozzle draws against the orifice from which the water is issuing. 

 The kite is heavily ballasted with lead, and weighs 1*9 lbs. for 

 every square foot of area. Three methods of soaring are described, 

 and eight points that require investigation are indicated for the 

 guidance of anyone who has the leisure and sufficient interest in 

 the subject to assist in the work. The paper also contains a short 

 description of a pipe boiler and screw engine that is intended to" 

 drive a flying machine, and also the proposed arrangement of 

 aeroplanes for supporting it, with the method of ensuring a safe 

 trial. 



2. "Australian Divisional Systems," by R. H. Mathews, l.s. 



The author pointed out that all tribes of Australian Aborigines 

 are divided into two exogamous intermarrying groups — the men of 

 one group marrying the women of the other group. These tribal 

 divisions have been designated organisations or systems. The 

 names of the groups may change with the languages of the people 

 in different districts, but the same system prevails in them all. 



