president's address. 
135 
a state of things which — with the matter held over from 1894 
still for some time likely to occupy attention — even under favour- 
able circumstances must continue for another year before we can 
hope to become quite free from the toils of arrears. The issue of 
five Parts instead of the usual four per annum means of course 
extra payments, and introduces a disturbing element into both the 
publishing arrangements and the finances for the year. Under 
these circumstances, therefore, it has become highly desirable that 
by the beginning of next year existing arrears should be cleared 
off in order that the Society may again revert to its normal 
condition; even though if necessary this should involve an unusual 
discrimination in accepting matter for publication during the 
coming Session. 
By the operation of Rule ix. the Members' Roll has been 
depleted to the extent of forty-five names of Members whose 
annual subscriptions have continued in arrears. Some at least of 
these, it may be hoped, will take advantage of the last clause of 
Rule ix., and by the discharge of arrears again qualify themselves 
for Membership. 
During the year five new Members were elected, two forwarded 
their resignations, and we have to lament the death of one — Dr. 
Craig Dixson — who was a prominent member of the Medical 
Profession in Sydney, and like his brother Dr. Thomas Dixson, to 
whose services on our Council we are all much indebted, was 
always a consistent supporter of our Society. For the reasons 
given above, and more particularly through the continued wide- 
spread commercial depression — though for this the Council is 
desirous of making all possible allowance — the number of effective 
Members on the Roll is at present smaller than it has been for 
some years — a fact which I commend to the consideration of the 
Members generally, in the hope that such a state of affairs may be 
only of a temporary character. 
In the hope of encouraging a larger attendance of Members at 
the Monthly Meetings the Council early in the year decided as an 
experiment to hold the Meetings from June to November in town, 
at the University Chambers, kindly placed at our disposal by 
