5 
held with unasruil regularity, whilst the in- 
creased attendance at each of them seems to 
indicate that members are more alive to the 
beneficial influence the Society is calculated to 
exert in the spread of scientific pursuits 
amongst us. 
Four valuable papers have been read before 
the Society, viz. : — 
1. On the Anglo -Australian Telegraph — by 
J. J. Austin. 
2. On Insects whose productions are useful 
to man — by S. Diggles. 
3. On the Menura Superba — by H. C. 
Rawmley. 
4. On some of the economic uses of the 
Trappean Rocks around this district — by C. 
Tiffin. 
The Council have to report an important 
alteration which has been made in the constitu- 
tion of the Society. In the month of June a 
letter was received from his Excellency Sir G. 
F. Bowen, pointing out that it would be for the 
benefit of the Society to have for its President 
a gentleman permanently resident in the 
colony, with leisure to devote to its interests, 
and, with a view to accomplish this object, 
offered to resign the office he then filled. Here- 
upon, a general meeting was convened to con- 
sider his Excellency’s proposition, when the 
office of Patron was added to those already 
existing. His Excellency has been pleased 
to accept of the same, in the place of that 
which he formerly held. In filling up the 
office of President thus vacated, the Council 
congratulate the Society on the election of his 
Honour Chief Justice Cockle. 
In the last Annual Report, suggestions were 
thrown out that the Society should take steps 
to procure a site for a library and museum. 
After mature deliberation and a long corres- 
pondence with the Secretary for Linds, a very 
eligible site has been granted near the entrance 
gates of the Government domain, possessing 
the essential qualifications of being isolated 
from other buildings, and whilst out of the 
reach of dust and noise is readily accessible to 
those who may desire to consult its contents. 
During the year, some additions have been 
made to the collection already possessed by the 
Society. Two valuable cabinets of entomo- 
logical specimens have been obtained, and the 
thanks of the Society are due to Mr. Diggle3 for 
the labour he has expended in arranging them, 
and for his liberality in supplying mr.ny 
specimens from his own cabinets, in order to 
make the collection more complete. Two cases 
of British birds, and some marine specimens 
collected in Moreton Bay, are amongst the ad- 
ditions that have been made. 
The Council has also to acknowledge with 
thanks a ease of fossil remains, collected on 
the Fitzroy Downs, and presented to the 
Society by J. K. Wilson, Esq., and they take 
this opportunity of pressing upon members the 
duty of adding to the collection, both by their 
own personal efforts and through the assistance 
of their friends. It would be well to keep in 
view the fact, that a public museum offers a 
safe repository for valuable collections, which 
too often perish from want of care, or from 
being in private possession, are lost to miny 
who would desire to consult them. 
It is necessary to refer with deep regret to 
the loss of our late secretary, Dr. Barton. It 
should be remembered that he, together with 
two or three others, were the founders of this 
Society, and his patience and solicitude in 
everything connected with its welfare, demand 
special recognition at our hands. 
Mr. J. J. Austin has likewise been removed 
by death, whose name will be remembered in 
connection with a valuable paper on the Anglo- 
Australian Telegraph, which was read before 
the Society — on which occasion his Excellency 
the Governor occupied the chair, and took part 
in the discussion that followed. 
Our Society having now assumed a permanent 
place amongst s'milar institutions, it has been 
thought desirable that our rules should be made 
to harmonize as nearly as possible with those of 
older and more important societies in England. 
With this view, a revised code of rules, based 
upon those of the Cambridge Philosophical 
Society is in course of preparation, and will 
shortly be submitted for the consideration of 
the members. 
The funds of the society, as will be seen 
from the Treasurer’s balance sheet, have been 
very limited, which arises chiefly from the cir- 
cumstance that the promise of an annual grant 
of £100, made by the Government last year, 
was retracted at a period of the Parliamentary 
session too late to admit of further application 
being made. The revenue, therefore, of the 
society has been limited to the subscriptions of 
the members. 
CHARLES COXEN, Y.P. 
The adoption of the report was moved and 
seconded by Mr. Le Gould and Mr. Raff. 
His Honour James Cockle, the Chief Justice 
of Queensland, and President of tho Society, 
then delivered the following — 
ADDRESS. 
I do not know that, even if circumstances 
had permitted me to prepare a more ^elaborate 
address, I could on this occasion add much to 
the R'port of the Council. Honoured I cannot 
but feel in having been thought worthy of 
sucoeeling to the chair lately occupied by His 
Excellency the Governor. I say this, not so 
much on account of the lustre which his 
pre-eminent position in the colony may be 
supposed to have thrown round the office, as 
hiving regard to that literary eminence which 
of itself justified the choice of the Society, and 
to the signal advantages which will accrue to 
the colony from the part which our first Presi- 
dent has taken in the work of education. In 
times to come, when the man of scholarly 
habits shall de-ire lo animat? t! e indifference 
