PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY 
OF C^TTFFZtTSL^AlHID- 
♦ # 
A meeting of the Philosophical Society was 
held on Tuesday, Not. 3, at which there was 
a large attendance of members. In the absence 
of the President, Mr. Rawnsley filled the chair. 
Various business matters having been disposed 
of, a letter was read from the Secretary for 
Lands informing the society that the Govern- 
ment was willing to grant a site for a museum 
in a very commanding position near the en- 
trance gates of Government House. 
A complete list of the papers read before the 
society was laid upon the table, distinguishing 
those which had been printed from those which 
had not. It was resolved that a copy of every 
printed paper should be filed and kept for the 
use of the members. 
A communication was read urging the 
necessity which exists for an increase in the 
number of Meteorological stations in this 
colony, which gave rise to remarks from 
various members present as to the utter inutility 
of only two stations in a territory the extent of 
Queensland. Remarks were also made point- 
ing out that the value of the observations 
depend on two circumstances. 1st. Their 
accuracy. 2nd. Their being taken at stations 
not too far distant apart, and in places possess- 
ing different geographical configurations. It 
was pointed out by reference to returns laid 
upon the table, that in New South Wales there 
were eleven or twelve stations, whilst in 
Queensland there were only two, both of which 
were upon the sea coast : at present the various 
climatic conditions which exist in different 
parts of the colony are only traditional, and if 
we are to derive the benefit which it is in the 
power of science to bestow, we must travel 
along the beaten track of careful observation, 
in every locality which presents different 
climatic features ; eventually, the question was 
ordered to stand over until the next meeting, in 
order that more precise information might be 
obtained on the matter. 
A present was announced of a case of fossils, 
collected on the Fitzroy Downs, by J. K. 
Wilson, Esq., for the Museum in course of 
formation. It would be well if our colonists 
generally would follow so good an example. 
A national Museum is of the greatest impor- 
tance to a rising community like our own, for 
here it is that young men must seek the rudi- 
ments of the science before they can go out into 
the world and collect additions to that stock of 
knowledge which ages have already gathered 
in. The great question of how soon the boun- 
teous earth we inhabit shall be made to yield 
up the rich treasures that lie buried in her 
bosom, depends quite as much, and we shall 
not go far wrong in saying even more, upon 
the conquests of science than upon the extent 
of mere human power which we import from the 
mother country. 
Notice was given that as the next meeting 
would be the annual meeting, the President 
would deliver an address, officers for the 
ensuing year would be elected, and other business 
commonly reserved for the annual meeting 
would be transacted. Members willing to fill 
any of the vacant offices were requested to 
forward their names to the Secretary previously, 
that they might be included in the ballot 
papers. 
Mr. Tiffin then read the following paper, 
which was listened to with the greatest interest, 
specimens of the rock in its natural state, and 
also specimens which had been subjected to a 
welding heat, were used to illustrate the 
subject. 
Of some of the economic uses of the 
Trappean Rocks around the District 
of Brisbane. 
November 3, 1863. 
In consequence of having had what seemed 
to me a rather singular and valuable discovery 
brought immediately under my notice, I have 
ventured on the rather onerous task of attempt- 
ing to produce a paper for this society. I do 
so the more willingly, that others may be 
induced to look upon our Philosophic Society 
with less awe, and to believe that it is within 
the province of every member to produce some 
short memoir of facts or experiments in philo- 
sophical subjects which would tend to fan the 
flame, at least, of science, if it did not open 
up new walks. The subject of my paper is, 
perhaps, of too practical a turn even for 
this society ; but our truly scientific men in 
Queensland are either so few, or so modest, or 
so secluded, that we have had little benefit from 
their investigations here — always excepting 
those of our own members who have come for- 
ward — hence the necessity of some tyro to 
step into the arena (having the temerity to 
