8o 
The business of the Council during the year has been par- 1 
ticularly arduous. New rules and bye-laws have been drafted I 
and brought into force. In addition the removal of the Society 
from the W.A. Museum, the labour in connection with the Library 
and collection, and the hundred other matters that have demanded 
attention, have necessitated very frequent meetings and a great 
amount of personal exertion and sacrifice on the part of some 
of the Council, who have given up many evenings and worked hard 
to get things in order. 
It will be remembered that the Society took up the question I 
of the preservation of Barrow Island as a Fauna and Flora 
Reserve. This island is of the greatest scientific interest, as it is I 
the sole habitat of several species of animals. It was proposed | 
by the Government to lease the island for industrial purposes, | 
but at the suggestion of the Council the authorities decided to 1 
act otherwise, and we have much pleasure in stating that this I 
important area has now been gazetted as a strict game preserve I 
for all time. 
The Council regrets for many reasons that the Society had ' 
to vacate its old quarters at the Museum, but this was necessitated 
by the inability to obtain at the Museum essential facilities such 
as a suitable room for general meetings and unrestricted entrance I 
at any reasonable time to the Society’s quarters. The Director 
of Technical Education kindly provided the Society with tempo- 
rary accommodation in the Technical School during the Christmas I 
vacation, and after that, through the courtesy of the Honourable 
the Minister for Agriculture, the Society obtained the use of 
the very convenient rooms in the Department of Agriculture I 
which we at present occupy. 
The Council has met twenty-five times during the year, and 
there have been twelve general meetings of the Society, at which 
many important papers have been read. Excursions have been 
conducted to various localities in the Darling Ranges and else- 
where. The attendance was encouraging, but it is to be hoped 
that even more members will attend during the coming year. 
Visits were also paid to several of the public scientific institutions, 
including the Observatory, the Laboratory of the Central Board 
of Health, the Geological Survey Offices, and Laboratory, and the 
Museum. 
Arrangements have been made tor a series of Demonstrations 
in various branches of practical science to be given during the 
coming season by various members recognised as authorities in 
their respective branches of study. One such will be given in 
each month. They should prove of great interest and assistance 
to the members. 
