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Abstract

The first meeting of the present session
of the Royal Society of Tasmania was
held in the society's rooms on May 8
in the presence of a large and fashionable
audience. Among those present were His
Excellency and Lady Eedeline Strickland.
The Secretary (Mr. Alex. Morton) presented
His Excellency with a handsomely
bound volume of the proceedings of the
Royal Society.
While the ballot was proceeding, the
secretary drew attention to a fine watercolour
painting which had just been received
from New Zealand, of the Notornis
Hochstetteri, the Takahe of the Maori.
His Excellency then delivered the following
presidential address "Some developments in 1905-6
conducive to Tasmanian progress."
as president of
the Royal Society, to open the proceedings
of a new session with an address of
a scientific character, and I propose, on
this occasion, to bring to your notice
a few of the discoveries and developments
of the year 1905-1906, which have some
bearing on the future progress of Tasmania.
For example, the beginning of 1905 witnessed
a continuing rise in the price of tin, copper,
and other metals, the explanation which is
commonly accepted to account for the
high price of copper, is the rapid development
of electric tramways, telegraphs,
and other industrial undertakings, for
which copper is still without a rival. In the railway world, the past year has been remarkable for the building in England of the largest possible engines
that could be safely got through existing
tunnels and stations. Speeds of 70
miles an hour have been recorded, and
maintained with safety. Other developments relates to The Panama Canal which is an undertaking,
prospectively, of great importance to Tasmania.
Professor Milne, the best-known authority
in the world on earthquakes,
has recorded the opinion that there
are about thirty thousand earthquakes
in the world every year. In relation to harnessing water as power consumption, is a
large catchment area at a suitable elevation
in a country with a reliable and
sufficient rainfall.
With regard to telegraphy, I desire to
notice a portable telephone instrument developed by a Tasmanian, and shown at the
military camp at Ross on Easter Tuesday.
The apparatus has the great merit
of the thorough working out of detail
seldom seen at the first exhibition of a
new instrument.
In conclusion, I venture to hope
that this Royal Society of Tasmania may,
in the session now opened, contribute its
share of work, in its special sphere, towards
the advancement of the pnogrese of
this community.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Royal Society of Tasmania
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, Van Diemens Land, VDL, Hobart Town, natural sciences, proceedings, records
Journal or Publication Title:	The Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
ISSN:	0080-4703
Collections:	Royal Society Collection > Papers & Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
Additional Information:	In 1843 the Horticultural and Botanical Society of Van Diemen's Land was founded and became the Royal Society of Van Diemen's Land for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science in 1844. In 1855 its name changed to Royal Society of Tasmania for Horticulture, Botany, and the Advancement of Science. In 1911 the name was shortened to Royal Society of Tasmania.
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