16 ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS. 



and each paper must be accompanied by a sealed envelope bearing 

 the motto outside, and containing the writer's name and address 

 inside. All communications to be addressed to the Honorary 

 Secretaries. 



Antarctic Exploration — As you are aware Professor Liversidge 

 referred somewhat largely to this subject in his Presidential 

 Address last year, from which it appears that a Committee of the 

 British Association was formed in 1885, which presented three 

 reports, while Baron von Miiller of Melbourne, as early as 1886 

 strongly advocated an Antarctic Expedition. Nothing however, 

 came of it ; the request of the Agent General of Victoria made 

 in 1887 to the Imperial Government for a subsidy of £5,000 

 towards the cost of such an Antarctic Expedition under the con- 

 dition of Victoria giving a similar sum having been declined on 

 two grounds, viz., that as regards the two objects then put forward 

 in support of such an expedition, i.e., promotion of trade and 

 scientific enquiry, the first did not justify imperial contribution, 

 and as to the second, that the proposed outlay of £1 0,000 on such 

 an expedition could do but very little in the way of scientific 

 investigation. At a meeting of the Australian Antarctic Explor- 

 ation Committee held at Melbourne on 4th of March 1890, the 

 munificent offer of Baron Oscar Dickson of Gothenburg, Sweden, 

 to fit out and start a Swedish- Australian Expedition under the 

 leadership of the celebrated Baron Nordenskjold, to explore the 

 Antarctic regions, provided Australia contribute half the estimated 

 cost, viz., .£5,000, while Baron Dickson offered to pay the other 

 half, was brought before the members by the Consul for Sweden 

 at Melbourne, Mr. Gundersen. This offer was enthusiastically 

 received by the meeting, and the Victorian Branch of the Royal 

 Geographical Society of Australasia in conjunction with the 

 Royal Society of Victoria, at once set to work to enlist the hearty 

 co-operation of the different Branches of the Royal Geographical 

 Society of Australasia and other scientific societies in the Aus- 

 tralian Colonies, with a view of getting the stipulated £5,000. 



