First Meeting: 8th July, 1896.
Mr. W. T. L. Travers, F.L.S., President, in the chair.

New Member:—Mr. Frank Maxwell Leckie.

The President delivered his opening address, Antarctic Explorations, Röntgen Rays, and the Discovery of Argon being the subjects of the address. (Transactions, p. 111.)

Major-General Schaw was sure he spoke the feelings of all present when he proposed that the thanks of the meeting be given to the President for his address, which bad given so much information in so cleat and pleasing a way. Mr. Travers had alluded to the speaker's paper as to the need of pendulum experiments being made further south. He had also alluded to Mr. Proctor's theory that the peculiarly low atmospheric pressure towards the South Pole was caused by the centre of gravity of the earth being south of the equator. All the facts hitherto ascertained by pendulum experiments showed that, on the contrary, the centre of gravity of the earth was north of the equator. He was very glad that the President had again drawn attention to the necessity of making exhaustive pendulum experiments as near the South Pole as possible.

Sir James Hector had much pleasure in seconding the vote of thanks to the President for the valuable and well-rendered résumé he had given of the most prominent scientific discoveries made during the past year. With respect to Antarctic Exploration, he fully agreed with the views of the President. As to the interior of Antarctica, he had always held the opinion that the snowfall must decrease towards the interior and round the pole after crossing the ice-cliff border, across which moisture could not penetrate far without being deposited, as the average maximum temperature was below 32°. His views had often been expressed to the Society that it was rather a disgrace that no earnest attempt had been yet made to explore such a large and totally unknown area of the earth's surface.

Mr. Tregear said it was a pleasure to the younger members of the Society to know that Mr. Travers was once more in the chair, and still active and doing good work. He complimented the President for his able address.

Mr. Harding said they had heard a most interesting address. It was a curious thing that Argon was so nearly discovered nearly a hundred years ago by an old chemist, and that forty years ago they were on the brink of discovering the Röntgen rays. He was glad to hear that coloured photographs could now be obtained.

Mr. Hustwick said it was Dr. Priestley who so nearly discovered Argon.

Mr. Travers returned thanks for the manner in which his address had been received.