IN presenting, as desired by the Committee, Prof. Sollas's report on the attempts to ascertain, by boring, the structure of the atoll of Funafuti and on other investigations simultaneously undertaken, I avail myself of the opportunity of expressing the gratitude which is felt by its members to our friends in New South Wales, who have given such real and substantial help, especially by the loan of machinery and skilled workmen, in putting the project into execution; and among them chiefly to Prof. Anderson Stuart (who has been practically another Secretary in Australia), Prof. Edgeworth David, Mr. W. H. J. Slee (Chief Inspector of Mines), and Sir Saul Samuel (the Agent-General of the Colony in England). I shall venture also to acknowledge gratefully the services of Captain Field and the officers of H.M.S. Penguin, and the unstinted labour which has been given by Mr. W. W. Watts, our Secretary in London, in carrying out our plans. In conclusion, may I express, speaking for myself, my earnest hope that another attempt will be made to determine the true structure of an atoll. I think, however, that our experience on this occasion shows that the attempt can be much more easily made, and with a far greater probability of success, if Australia instead of England be the base of operations, and I trust that before long the colony of Sydney will initiate an expedition, and we shall co-operate with them as cordially as they have done with us.