Vill Presidents Address 
form valuable contributions to the several branches of science 
to which they pertain. It isa matter for congratulation, 
moreover, that your members evince a most lively and_ 
increasing interest in all questions having reference to the 
development of the rescources and industries of our 
colony, and I need scarcely remind them that they can 
hardly take a nobler work in hand, or work in which there 
is yet so wide a space for progress and improvement. I 
may also congratulate the society on the prompt manner in 
“which the Council's decision to print the Transactions at 
short intervals has been carried out. The 7th volume, 
already in the hands of members, brings us up to June, 1866, 
and Part I. of Volume VIII. is now in the press ; and I may 
add that it is fully intended that the papers and abstracts 
shall in future be published every three months. Copies of 
the last volume (Volume VII.) have been forwarded to the 
numerous scientific and literary bodies in Europe and 
America with which our Society is in communication, as 
well as to various institutions in this and the neighbouring 
colonies ; according to an old custom of this society copies 
have also been sent to Her Majesty the Queen and the 
Emperor of the French. : 
You will be interested to learn that there are ninety-one 
learned societies in Europe and America with which we 
regularly interchange publications ; and it is not without 
some little pride that J hear from our honorary secretary 
of constant and eager requests from foreign societies, not 
already in communication with us, for copies of our 7rans- 
actions. The contributions received from these foreign 
learned bodies are rapid)y increasing our library with a most 
valuable, and for this part of the world unique, collection of 
books, a catalogue of which is now in course of preparation - 
by your hon. librarian, Dr. Neild 
Our Natural History collections, too long buried in dark 
