Owing to the geographical position of Australia and to the 

 conditions of our commerce, it seems more than probable 

 that for many years to come our coal trade will continue 

 on its present lines. Any additional coal loading appliances 

 to be erected at our ports should therefore be designed to 

 suit that trade. 



The question of discharging coal cargoes by mechanical 

 means fitted in the vessel has received much consideration 

 for some time past, and a steam collier with self acting 

 delivery has lately been constructed at Sutherland, which 

 it is said will reduce the cost of discharging a cargo of 

 3,100 tons to about one-tenth the cost of discharging by 

 hand. The equipment consists of twin belt conveyors 

 carried in a space under the cargo which draw the coal 

 from the hold and deliver it by means of swivelling booms 

 either into trucks on the wharf or into barges alongside 

 the vessel. Discharging coal cargoes by means of conveyors 

 and grabs worked from the shore has been carried on with 

 considerable success for some time, but it is obvious that 

 much better results should be obtained from an equipment 

 fitted in the ship itself. 



Owing to the limited time at my disposal for the delivery 

 of this address, I have been able only to touch very briefly 

 on a few of the many subjects connected with over-sea 

 transport. The interesting and equally important question 

 of transport by land must be left for someone better versed 

 in the subject to deal with on some future occasion. 



During the past twelve months we have lost by death 

 one Hon. Member, Professor Simon Newcombe, ll.d., rh.a, 

 Rear Admiral of the United States Navy; he was elected a 

 member of our Society in 1901 and died on 11th July, 1909. 

 The loss of ordinary members has been more severe. The 

 death roll includes the following : — 



