18 A. LIVERSIDGE. 



so poorly and inconveniently housed, that the collections are almost 

 inaccessible, and at one time the committee almost decided to close 

 the place in consequence. In December last the committee 

 resigned their trust to the Government as they felt they could not 

 be responsible for the care of the collections unless granted the 

 necessary accommodation for their safe custody and proper ex- 

 hibition to the public. Happily steps have now been taken to 

 erect a suitable building for the Museum, in connection with the 

 Technical College, so that the public will in due course have an 

 opportunity of really judging of the extent and value of the 

 collections which have been got together. 



Original Researches. — As is well known to the members, this 

 Society has now for several years (since 1881) published lists of 

 subjects, peculiar to Australia, requiring investigation, in the hope 

 that those, having the time and necessary qualifications, would be 

 led to devote themselves to the work. The subjects offered for 

 Prize Essays from 1881 to 1889 were the following: — 1. On the 

 Aborigines of New South Wales. 2. On the treatment of aurifer- 

 ous pyrites. 3. On the Forage Plants indigenous to New South 

 Wales. 4. On the influence of the Australian climates and pas- 

 tures upon the growth of wool. 5. On the chemistry of the 

 Australian gums and resins. 6. On water supply in the Interior 

 of New South Wales. 7. On the embryology and development of 

 the Marsupials. 8. On the Infusoria peculiar to Australia. 9. 

 Origin and mode of occurrence of gold-bearing veins and of the 

 associated minerals. 10. Anatomy and life history of the Echidna 

 and Platypus. 11. Anatomy and life history of Mollusca peculiar 

 to Australia. 1 2. The chemical composition of the products from 

 ^he so-called Kerosene Shale of New South Wales. 13. On the 

 Tin-deposits of New South Wales. 14. On the Iron-ore deposits 

 of New South Wales. 15. List of the Marine Fauna of Port 

 Jackson with descriptive notes as to habits, distribution etc. 16. 

 On the Silver ore deposits of New South Wales. 17. On the 

 Aborigines ef Australia. 



