9 
Although most anxious to encourage and promote sericul- 
ture, the Council find it difficult to advance this industry in a 
really practical manner, so as to be of benefit to the colony. 
Baron Yon Mueller has however, as well as the Society, supplied 
many parts of the Colony with white mulberry plants, and when 
these come into bearing, silk growing will, they hope, afford 
profitable employment to the industry of the Colony. The 
Society will be happy at all times to furnish every information 
in their power connected with sericulture. 
The Council were of opinion that the services in the cause 
of pisciculture, rendered by Sir ilobert Officer and Mr Morton 
Allport, of Tasmania, deserved some recognition at their hands, 
and they therefore awarded to both these gentlemen the silver 
medal of the Society. Their bronze medal has also been pre- 
sented to Captain Babot, of the Hydaspes, for his enterprize in 
bringing out sea turtle. 
In conclusion, the Council are glad to state that the condi- 
tion of the Society is sound and prosperous, and that they only 
require more liberal co-operation from the public to enable them, 
with the assistance of the small but efficient staff at the Eoyal 
Park, to produce great results in the cause of acclimatisation ; 
and would again inform their friends throughout the country, 
that donations of native animals or birds are always extremely 
useful, not only for the zoological collection at the Eoyal Park 
but for purposes of exchange with other countries. 
Since the last report the following gentlemen have been 
elected as members of Council, and their ajjpointment requires 
to be confirmed at this meeting, viz., Charles Eyan, Esq., and 
Frederick Godfrey, Esq. In conformity with the rules, the fol- 
lowing members retire from the Council, being the three who 
have attended the fewest meetings ; but are eligible for re- 
election The Hon. Dr. Dobson, T. J. Sumner, Esq., and John 
Steavenson, Esq. The balance sheets for the past year, audited 
by Mr, Eucker, public accountant, are laid before the meeting, 
