ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. XV11. 



ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS, JULY 5, 1899. 



The General Monthly Meeting of the Society was held at the 

 Society's House, No. 5 Elizabeth-street North, on Wednesday 

 evening, July 5tb, 1899. 



The President, W. M. Hamlet, p.c.s., in the Chair. 



Forty members and five visitors were present. 



The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed. 



The certificates of two candidates were read for the third time, 

 of one for the second time, and of twenty-two for the first time. 



The following gentlemen were duly elected ordinary members 

 of the Society : — 



Durack, J. J. E., b.a. Syd.; St. John's College, University. 

 Hawker, Herbert, Demonstrator in Physiology, University 

 of Sydney ; Toxteth Road, Glebe Point. 



THE FOLLOWING PAPERS AVERE READ : 



1. " Suggestions for depicting diagrammatically the character of 

 Seasons as regards Rainfall, and especially that of Drought," 

 by H. DEANE, M.A., M.inst. c.e. 

 The author calls attention to the inadequacy of the ordinary 

 methods of judging of the dryness or otherwise of seasons by using 

 the totals of the rainfall and comparing them with the average. 

 He explains that the proper way of exhibiting the character of 

 any period is by showing diagrammatically the progressive dryness 

 that takes place in the soil after rainfall ceases. This is marked 

 by a descending line, and being from time to time more or less 

 compensated for by falls of rain, these are indicated by rises. The 

 only useful rain to the soil itself is what soaks in and tends to 

 saturate it, all beyond this, although it may be useful for conserva- 

 tion and for keeping up the flow of rivers, is waste so far as the 

 particular ground, on which the rain has fallen, is concerned. The 

 diagrams exhibited show the effect of this "loss and compensation" 

 system and the dryness of the years and parts of years given in 

 the series 1883 to 1898 inclusive are rendered visible and measur- 

 able. 



b— Julj 5, 1890. 



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