SYDNEY. Royal Society of New South Wales, May 2.—Annual Meeting.—C. S. Wilkinson, Government Geologist, President, in the chair.—The report stated that twenty-four new members had been elected during the year, and the total number on the roll on April 30 was 482.—Dr. Michael Foster, F.R.S., Professor of Physiology, University of Cambridge, had been elected an honorary member.—During the year the Society held nine meetings, at which the following papers were read:—Presidential Address, by Christopher Rolleston, C.M.G.—Recent work on flying machines, by L. Hargrave.—Some N.S.W. tan-substances, Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4, by J. H. Maiden.—Notes on the experience of other countries in the administration of their water supply, by H. G. McKinney.—Notes on some inclusions observed in a specimen of the Queensland opal, by D. A. Porter.—The influence of bush fires in the distribution of species, by Rev. R. Collie.—Origin and mode of occurrence of gold-bearing veins and of the associated minerals, by Jonathan Seaver.—Results of observations of comets vi. and vii., 1886, at Windsor, N.S.W., by John Tebbutt.—Port Jackson silt beds, by F. B. Gipps.—On the presence of fusel oil in beer, by W. M. Hamlet.—Autographic instruments used in the development of flying machines, by Lawrence Hargrave.—The Medical Section held seven meetings, fourteen papers being read; the Sanitary Section four meetings, five papers read; and the Microscopical Section held eight meetings.—The Clarke Medal for the year 1888 had been awarded to the Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods; the Society's bronze medal and money prize of £25 had been awarded to Mr. Jonathan Seaver for his paper on the origin and mode of occurrence of gold-bearing veins and of the associated minerals; and the Council has since issued the following list of subjects, with the offer of the medal and a prize of £25, for each of the best researches, if of sufficient merit; (to be sent in not later than May 1, 1888) anatomy and life-history of the Echidna and Platypus; anatomy and life-history of Mollusca peculiar to Australia; the chemical composition of the products from the so-called kerosene shale of New South Wales; (to be sent in not later than May 1, 1889) on the chemistry of the Australian gums and resins; on the aborigines of Australia; on the iron ore deposits of New South Wales; list of the marine fauna of Port Jackson, with descriptive notes as to habits, distribution, &c.; (to be sent in not later than May 1, 1890) influence of the Australian climate, general and local, in the development and modification of disease; on the silver ore deposits of New South Wales; on the occurrence of precious stones in New South Wales, with a description of the deposits in which they are found.—The Chairman read the Presidential Address, and the officers and Council were elected for the ensuing year.—A compressed air-engine for driving a flying machine was exhibited by Mr. L. Hargrave. The engine weighed only 2 lbs. 7 oz.; cylinder, 1 5 8 inch diameter; stroke, 2 inches. The receiver for the compressed air was 0.21 cubic feet capacity, made of 1/10inch steel, single riveted and brazed. The bursting-pressure was 900 lbs., working pressure 500 lbs., and reduced pressure 900 lbs., per square inch. There would be 9200 foot-pounds available for work; this power would have to be expended in from half to three-quarters of a minute. The charged receiver weighed 6 lbs. 12 oz., wood and paper work about 2 lbs. A small Richards's indicator had been made for adjusting the piston-valve. The machine was intended for a flight of 200 yards.