THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACY. 
55 
THE ANNUAL REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. 
The report and balance-sheet for the year 1885 were submitted, and ordered 
to be printed and distributed amongst the members. The balance-sheet shows- 
the financial position of the society to be in a highly satisfactory state, with a 
steadily increasing income, the balance to the credit of the benevolent fund 
being £257 13s. 7d. 
The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. 
THE ANNUAL MEETING. 
The order of the business to be dealt with at the annual meeting, to be 
held on the 10th March next, was discussed. 
It was resolved that the gold medal for the 1885 [session be presented at 
the meeting, and also the president’s prize. The president, Mr. W. Bowen, will 
deliver the annual address, and at the conclusion of L the meeting the quarterly 
supper will be held. 
THE INTERCOLONIAL PHARMACEUTICAL CONFERENCE. 
The consideration of this matter, and the appointment of the committee to 
carry it out, were postponed until the next meeting of the council 
COMMENCEMENT OF THE 1886 SESSION. 
It was resolved that the session for pharmaceutical students should commence 
on the 23rd March, and for medical students on the 24th March. 
CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. 
From Mr. E. Gilbert, Quorn, S.A., forwarding his resignation as a member 
of the society, which was accepted. From the secretary of the Royal Techno- 
logical Commission, applying for the use of office accommodation. It was resolved 
that the request be complied with, the rental to be £25 per annum. From Mr. 
James Lacey, intimating that he would not again offer himself for re-election as 
a member of the council, having seldom time to study the business to be 
transacted, and therefore thinking it better to withdraw from a position he 
could not honestly maintain. A number of other letters of no special public 
interest were dealt with. Financial and general business brought the meeting to 
a close. 
THE MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA. 
An ordinary meeting of this Society was held at the College of Pharmacy on 
Thursday evening, the 28th January; the president (Mr. T. S. Ralph, M.R.C.S., 
Eng.) in the chair. Mr. W. E. Pickets, F.R.M.S., and Mr. Ball were elected 
members. An interesting paper on the histology of tmesipteris— a plant allied 
to the fern, and the only example of its species— was read by Mr. A. H. S. 
Lucas. The plant was originally discovered in Tanna, and is remarkable for 
its rigidity and hardiness, most allied species being tender and fragile. Mr. 
Bale made some remarks on the marsilea, a plant of the fern family very similar 
to four-leaved clover, from the seed of which the famous “ nardoo ” of the 
aborigines is made. The peculiarity of the marsilea is that, although low down 
in the classification of plant life, it closes its leaves at night time, a habit 
generally only observable in the higher forms of plants. 
