that I will entertain any applications for such work, and will furnish them direct, if required, with any particulars they may wish for. "Certain dredging areas will probably be advertised shortly as open to lease, on and after the 1st July next."

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

HELD AT QUEENsland OfficES ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1900, AT 8 P.M.

T

HE chair was occupied by Mr. Furber, and there were also present Messrs. Halloran, Peake, Cooke, Bonney, Harris, Mills, Arnheim, McKay, Miller, Hughes, and Dobbie, and, as a visitor, Mr. Heimbrod. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Messrs. J. F. Loxton, G. H. Knibbs, and G. H. Halligan

The nominations to membership of Mr. Frank Wearne and Mr. Eugene Kenny were announced.

A ballot for membership was taken, Messrs. Peake and Cooke acting as scrutineers. Upon their report, Mr. E. W. Hedgeland was declared to have been elected a member of the Institution.

The Chairman then drew the attention of those present to the fact that since the last meeting the Institution had sustained a severe loss in the death of Mr. D. M. Maitland, late District Surveyor at Armidale. He then referred to the valuable work done by Mr. Maitland, in connection with the Institution, and to the high esteem in which he was held by all who knew him. Messrs. Mills, McKay, and Dobbie followed in the same strain, the meeting eventually unanimously endorsing the action taken by the Council in sending a letter of condolence and sympathy to Mrs. Maitland and family.

The report of the Council to-members was then read by the hon. Secretary, in which the work of the year was reviewed. Its adoption was moved by Mr. E. A. Harris, seconded by Mr. Arnheim, and carried.

The hon. Treasurer then presented the report and balance sheet for the past year and moved its adoption, which Mr. Cooke seconded. Mr. McKay suggested retrenchment in certain quarters to meet the unsatisfactory state of the finances. Mr. Mills followed, deprecating any retrenchment at present. The report was then adopted.

The Chairman then announced the election of the officers of the Institution, whose names were announced in last issue.

The Chairman referred with regret to the resignation of Mr. J. F. Loxton from the Presidency, and also to the fact that the members were thereby robbed of the Presidential address.

Mr. Heimbrod then exhibited a theodolite very little in use in this colony, and which was an object of much interest to the members present.

The meeting closed by Mr. McKay moving a vote of thanks to the retiring officers, the motion being carried by acclamation,

ANNUAL REPORT BY THE COUNCIL TO MEMBERS FOR THE YEAR 1899.

HE past year has been devoted almost entirely to the improvement

work, and has been a very busy one in that respect.

Several very important matters have been considered and discussed and brought to a head, and the Council can now take action in regard to them.

In referring to these matters, the Council would like to express satisfaction at the deep interest taken in some of them by a few country members. At the same time, it is felt that, considering the importance of one or two of the matters under discussion, and the efforts made to obtain opinions from members on them, the interest should perhaps have been more general and widespread.

The Council is necessarily composed of members whose business is more or less connected with town and suburban surveying, consequently there is always a wish that country members should shew an interest in our management, either by criticism or otherwise. Whether members, however, choose to be active or not, the Council, as the executive body, feels that it has a right to their loyal support, and as the majority are located in the country, the Institution is practically dependent upon those members for existence. Combinations in all professions are looked upon as absolute necessities, the mere fact of the existence of a corporate body being in itself a support and strength to members. It is a notorious fact, however, that the management of almost every institution similar to our own devolves upon a few of its members. Those few must, however, have the solid support of inactive members to carry on the business, and in this respect the Council now takes the opportunity of reminding members in arrear with subscriptions that the business and progress of the Institution is much hampered owing to their laxity. The Council hopes that these members will make an effort to pay up all arrears as soon as possible.

The roll of membership has increased by eight, and the Council report with pleasure that the Chief Surveyor of the Lands Department, Mr. E. Twynam, has accepted honorary membership. Against these additions, nine resignations and three deaths have to be recorded, leaving the total number of members and associates on the 31st December at 278.

Among the deaths recorded is that of Mr. D. M. Maitland, District Surveyor of Armidale, which occurred on December 24th, after a very short illness. Mr. Maitland has been closely identified with the Institution since its inception. He was the first President, and it was not until his removal to Armidale in 1897 that his connection with the active management of the Institution ceased. The gap caused by the death of Mr. Maitland will be difficult to fill. In him we lose one of the ablest and most capable members of our profession, and to all who had the privilege of his intimate acquaintance is lost a true and generous-hearted friend.

Several changes have been made during the year in the personnel of the Council. Mr. R. T. McKay, owing to his professional duties, was obliged to vacate the position of Business Manager, Mr. E. C Hughes filling his place. Mr. T. F. Furber and Mr. Ğ. H. Halligan resigned the joint editorship of the Surveyor, Messrs. T. H. Loxton and John Miller being appointed to the vacancies. Mr. T. H. Loxton, upon accepting the post of Editor, resigned the office of Vice-President, Mr. G. H. Halligan being appointed to the vacancy. Mr. H. Shute, owing to the nature of his professional engagements, found it necessary to resign his seat on the Council. His services, however, have been secured as auditor. Mr. S. Mills was elected to the vacancy caused by Mr. Shute's retirement. The President, Mr. T. F. Loxton, has, owing to private reasons, been obliged to resign his office, but as it was not accepted until January 8th, no fresh appointment has been made.

During the year fourteen Council and eight General Meetings were held, the business at the General Meetings being altogether connected with various motions tabled. The Hon. Frank Clarke, M.L.C., tabled the following motions :-(1st) "That in future all private subdivisions of land for sale (irrespective of title) should be delineated on an accurately-drawn plan, shewing bearings, distances, etc., to be lodged and registered for reference purposes at the Land Titles Office, Sydney." (2nd) That the foregoing resolution be presented to the proper authority, with a view of obtaining the necessary legislation to give effect thereto." They were discussed at a General Meeting and then referred to a sub-committee to deal with. A report from that committee, containing six resolutions approving of the motions and setting forth more fully the changes that are necessary, was discussed at a subsequent General Meeting, and, after a slight amendment, was left in the hands of the Council, to deal with as it thought best. The Council, after receiving some correspondence from the RegistrarGeneral, thought that the matter had better be deferred until the passage of the Surveyors' Bill.

As the result of lengthy discussions on motions tabled by Mr. Bullock, and reading, "That in the opinion of this meeting the appointment of a licensed surveyor as head of the Survey and Drafting branch of the Land Titles Office is necessary," a deputation representing the Institution waited upon the Minister of Justice. Full particulars of the interview have already been published, and the Council feel satisfied that the matter, which is of such vital importance to the public and the profession, and which has been referred to the RegistrarGeneral, will meet with every consideration at his hands, and that in the near future the suggestions made at the interviews will be adopted.

A strong effort is being made to improve the status of salaried surveyors, as also the scale of fees under which licensed surveyors work. This action has necessarily been slow, as it was considered essential to obtain the opinion of as many surveyors as possible on the great number of questions involved.

The Committee appointed to draw up a report for presentation to the Institution spent a great deal of time and thought over the matter, and the result is that the report and proposed new scale of fees was adopted at the December General Meeting, and the Council requested

to bring the whole question before the proper authorities. This will be done as soon as the necessary interviews can be arranged.

The Surveyors' Bill has been kept in view, and every effort made to expedite its introduction to and passage through the Assembly As members know, the past year has been a very bad one so far as the introduction of useful legislation is concerned. The late Government promised to introduce the Bill on the first possible opportunity, but owing to the Federal movement, and finally the defeat of that Administration, nothing was done by it. In October, shortly after the present Government assumed office, a deputation from this Institution waited upon the the Hon. T. Hassall, Minister for Lands, and urged the early introduction of the Bill. The deputation received a cordial reception at the hands of the Minister, who stated that he had the Bill before him, but was afraid there would be no opportunity to introduce it that Session, but that we could rely upon his doing so next-that is, the first one this year. The Council anticipate no objection to the Bill, as the late Government is responsible for the drafting of it, and hopes are entertained of its passage within the next few months. Members will thus see that this measure, which is so important to us all, is kept well in the foreground and will be until it is passed.

The question of laying down a five-chain standard was introduced to the notice of the Council. The matter was referred to a subCommittee and a report drawn up and presented to the General Meeting. A discussion followed, and ultimately the report, which was in favour of the work, and which was read at two General Meetings, was adopted. It will be placed before the proper authorities at once.

The Institution was represented on the Board of Examiners at the annual Examination for Licensed Surveyors of New South Wales, by Messrs. G. H. Knibbs and S. Mills.

The Library has been enriched by various new works and magazines, conspicuous among the additions being a copy of the 5th edition of Leybourn's "Compleat Surveyor," dated 1722, presented to the Institution by Mr. C. C. Bullock.

At the request of the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science, to nominate two members, Messrs. T. F. Furber and G. H. Halligan have been nominated as representatives of the Institution at the forthcoming Conference to be held this month in Melbourne.

In conclusion, the Council would like to mention that an Institution similar to our own is being started in Queensland, and as this Institution has received such strong support from the profession in the sister colony, there can be small doubt but that they will all rally round and support their own. We wish them every success,

TO THE PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENTS, COUNCIL, AND MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTION OF SURVEYORS, N. S. W. (INCORPORATED).

GENTLEMEN-In submitting herewith a Balance Sheet for the year ending 31st December, 1899, it is with much regret I have to state that, even after exhausting our reserve trust account, we have a debit balance of £6 1s. 8d. This is solely caused by the neglect of many members to forward their subscriptions, and it will be necessary for further special endeavours to be made to get in the very large amount of these subscriptions now overdue, and at the same time to reduce our expenses as far as possible. It is my intention to make some recommendation to this end at an early meeting of the Council.

Our position, as shown by the statement of assets and liabilities, is a very strong one.

With these few remarks I have to refer you to the Balance Sheet presented herewith.