3 
being called for next Saturday. An earlier day 
would possibly be inconvenient to some of the 
members. 
On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Wight, it 
was then resolved — “ That the Council, with the 
Mayor and Mr. Bernays, be invited to attend a 
meeting to be held on Saturday afternoon.” 
Mr. Wight explained that the present 
meeting was to be considered in the light of a 
preliminary meeting, and the suggestion as to 
recognising Mr. Landsborough’s se^ces in the 
manner proposed, was to be understood as 
emanating from the Philosophical Society. 
GENERAL REPORT. 
The Rev. Mr. Bliss then read the draft of a 
Report of the progress made by the Society 
since its inauguration on the 1st March, 1859, 
to the present time, which, with a verbal 
amendment, suggested by Mr. Coote, was 
unanimously approved and adopted as follows : — 
Queensland Philosophical Society, 1862. 
President — His Excellency Sir G. F. Bowen, 
G.C.M.G. 
Vice-President— Charles Coxen, Esq. 
Council — H. Rawnsley, Esq. ; Rev. R. 
Creyke ; Rev. J. Bliss ; Dr. Barton ; S. 
Diggles, Esq. 
Treasurer — Alexander Raff, Esq. 
Auditors — Rev. R. Creyke, E. Mac Donnell, 
Esq. 
Secretary — Dr, Barton. 
Report 
Of the proceedings of the Society presented to 
the Annual Meeting held at the Board Room 
of the Brisbane Hospital, on the 2nd Decem- 
ber, 1862. 
As the present is the first report of the 
Society, it has been thought desirable to give a 
brief sketch of its operations from the com- 
mencement. 
The Society was inaugurated at a meeting 
held on the 1st March, 1859. The main object 
is the discussion of scientific subjects, with 
special reference to the natural history, soil, 
climate, and agriculture of the colony of 
Queensland. 
In carrying out this object several original 
and valuable papers by resident and correspond- 
ing members have been read at the various 
monthly meetings of the Society, of which the 
subjoined is a list : — - 
On Asphyxia Dr. Barton 
The microscope and its appli- 
cation to insect structure Mr. Diggles 
Remarkable features and pecu- 
liarities of several Austra- 
lian birds Mr. Rawnsley 
On the geological character of 
the country around Bris- 
bane Rev. G. Wight 
Ventilation of buildings Mr. Tiffin 
Cotton and Queensland Mr. Brookes 
Landscape designing Mr. Hill 
! ' Tramways Mr. Coote 
The Marsupialia of Australia Mr. Coxen 
Statistical report on the cli- 
mate and health of Bris- 
bane Rev. R. Creyke 
The sewerage of towns Mr. Coote 
The geological character of 
Northern Australia, as 
affecting its geographical 
features Mr. Gregory 
Remarks on the infusoria ... Mr. Diggles 
Coral and coral formations ... Rev. J. Bliss 
Queensland and the cotton 
question Mr. Brookes 
The drainage of land by tiles Mr. Pettigrew 
Some observations on a design 
for a bridge over the Bre- 
mer at Ipswich 1 Mr. Coote 
Plying squirrels of Australia Mr. Rawnsley 
The influence of climate on 
our domestic architecture Mr. Coote 
Meteorological and sanitary abstracts con- 
tributed regularly by Dr. Barton. 
In order that the colony at large might par- 
ticipate in the benefits arising from the labours 
and experience of individual observers, the 
Society felt that the papers thus contributed 
should not be confined within its own limits ; 
the Council, therefore, entered into an arrange- 
ment with the proprietor of the Queensland, 
Guardian for printing them at length in the 
columns of that journal ; the proprietor, at 
the same time, liberally undertaking to supply 
the Society with forty copies of each paper in a 
pamphlet form. It has been determined that 
these should remain in the custody of the 
Secretary until a sufficient number have been 
printed to form a volume. 
During the past year the Society has com- 
pleted its organisation by the election of its 
Council and officers at a meeting specially called 
for that'purpose in August last. His Excellency 
Sir G. F. Bowen has kindly consented to accept 
the office of President of the Society. 
With the view of increasing its utility and of 
benefitting the colony at large as much as pos- 
i sible, the Society has during the past year 
| specially directed it3 attention to the formation 
of the nucleus of a museum of natural Science 
for which purpose the Government has granted 
the temporary use of some rooms in the Signal 
Station, on Wickham Terrace, as a depositary 
I for such specimens as the Society have been 
! able to obtain ; and suitable cases have been 
i purchased for their preservation. The Council 
feel called upon to acknowledge a debt of grati- 
• tude as due to Messrs. Coxen, Rawnsley, 
Waller, and others, for contributions of speci- 
mens of conchology, ornithology, &c., and to 
Mr. Tiffin for a valuable microscope. They 
further have to report a grant of money from 
the Government to the extent of £100 in fur- 
therance of the objects of the Society. 
In looking to the future, the great work 
lying before the Society seems to be to procure 
