PROCEEDINGS. 



271 



iii. ' That in compliance with the request contained in the follow- 

 ing letter, it had been decided to form a Civil Engineering 

 Section of the Society, which would come into operation at 

 the commencement of next Session.' 



Athenaeum Club, 



Sydney, Dec. 1st, 1890. 

 Gentlemen, — For some years the Engineering Profession in this Colony 

 have felt that it would be a great advantage if some society were formed 

 in Sydney for the discussion of Civil Engineering questions, but for 

 several reasons it has not been thought advisable to form a distinct 

 Society. Lately a large number of representative Civil Engineers have 

 joined the Royal Society, and it is probable that many more will yet join. 

 After consultation with the leading engineering members, I have come 

 to the conclusion that it would be of advantage, both to the Eoyal Society 

 and also to the engineering profession, if a Civil Engineering Section, 

 on the same basis as the Medical Section, was formed as a branch of the 

 Royal Society. 



The interest manifested in the paper of Prof. Warren, on " Timber as 

 applied to Works of Construction," I think will support me in this appli- 

 cation. I would therefore ask the Council to allow a Civil Engineering 

 Section of this Society to be formed for the 1 reading and discussion of 

 papers on both Civil and Mechanical Engineering, as I am sure it will 

 not only bring in new members but forward the interests of the Society 

 itself. 



I have the honour to be Gentlemen, 



Yours faithfully, 



The Council, 



Royal Society of N.S.W. 



JOHN A. MACDONALD, 



M. Inst., C.E. 

 M. Inst., M.E. 

 M. Am. Soc, C.E. 



iv. 'That the Society's Journal, Vol. xxiv., Part i., was ready for 

 distribution to Foreign Societies, and that bound copies of the 

 volume would be forwarded to the members when complete.' 



Mr. T. W. Edgeworth David, b.a., f.g.s., read a paper on "The 

 Coalfields of New South Wales and their associated Eruptive 

 Rocks." 



Some remarks were made by Mr. J. F. Mann, the Hon. L. F. 

 De Salis, the Chairman and the author. 



Dr. John Fraser, read a paper entitled " Some remarks on the 

 Australian Languages."' 



A paper by Mr. Lawrence Hargrave, "On the 74oz. Compressed- 

 air Flying Machine," was taken as read, a model of the same was 

 •exhibited and explained. 



The thanks of the Society were accorded to the authors for 

 their valuable papers. 



The following donations were laid upon the table and 

 acknowledged : — 



