JouK. Boy. Hoc. Western Australia, Vol. XII, Xo. 20. 211 
WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S CONTRIBUTION 
TO 
EARTH HISTORY. 
Presidential Address 
TO 
The Royal Society oe Western Australia 
By 
A. CiiJR AIattland. 
( Dclivcivd on tlio Ultli of -Inly, 1020.) 
"(iraiit u'l' hare })uist<’rc(l lea ruin (/'.<; cral)hc<l ic.rt, 
Still llt<‘rv’s (he comment.'’ 
On a('nlrossIn<i' you this ovonino-, my fornmoHt duty ;nul ono 
of is to tliank you for tin' lioiiour ('onforrod by olortin^ 
1110 for tlio soooiid tmio after au interval of ieu years as Ib'esident 
of tlio lUiyal Society for tlie ofticial year wliicli t('rmiuates to-day. 
The election is not only a coin])liineut to myself; it is also an 
expression of v{uir (■■onvi('tion tliat the alliance betwtHUi jiui'e and 
applied science, for the prosecution of economic empiiries can only 
be etiiciently and eff('ctively carrit'd out in a strictly scimititic manner 
and is an entente which brink's lasting' Inmetit to both. 
The obli_i:>'at ions and tx sponsibilities which the oftic'O with whic'i 
you entrusted me twelve months ago to carry artf not to lie lightly 
undertaken, in view of tin* growing tradition of the work of my 
predecessors who have occupied tin' Presidential ( hair. 
1 count myself fortunate in acting as ymir iiresiding ofUcev 
at a time when the afl'airs of the Society are in such a very satis- 
factory ])Osition, not only as regar.ls tinance and membership, but 
also in its slow' and steaily growth of usefulness. 
There seems every reason to hope that the rvork of the Royal 
Society will continue during the incoming year equally Avell as it 
