ALFRED ROBERTS. 



Universities and 



Failing my personal observation, I again avail myself of the 

 most interesting address of the President. From this I find that 

 in July 1886, Professor Liversidge wrote to the Presidents of the 

 various Australasian Scientific Societies inviting them to appoint 

 members of their Councils to represent them at a meeting to be 

 held in Sydney at an early date. This meeting subsequently took 

 place, drafted rules for the Association, and arranged that the 

 first meeting should take place in Sydney in September 1888. 

 Under his active supervision and quidance the vi^ork of organisation 

 was carried on, and in March 1888, the delegates were called 

 together. At this meeting they elected H. C. Russell, B.A., 

 F.R.S., President ; Professor Liversidge and Dr. George Bennett, 

 F.L.S., Honorary Secretaries; and Sir Edward Strickland, K.C.B., 

 Honorary Treasurer. At subsequent meetings Vice-Presidents, 

 Presidents and Secretaries of Sections were appointed, and every 

 efibrt was made to found the Association upon a broad basis. 

 These efforts were so successful that the President was able in his 

 opening address to announce that the members numbered no less 

 than 750,* and to express his belief " that the Association had 

 accjuired an impulse which in the course of time would lead it on 

 to the realization of its purpose." 



Sectional Committees were appointed for the following subjects : 

 Section A. — Astronomy, Mathematics, Physics, and ^Mechanics. 

 Section B. — Chemistry and Mineralogy. 

 Section C. — Geology and Palaeontology. 

 Section D. — Biology. 

 Section E. — Geography. 



Section F. — Economic and Social Science and Statistics. 

 Section G. — Anthropology. 

 Section H.— Sanitary Science and Hygiene. 

 Section I.— Literature and Fine Arts. 



