| Description | The Society has learnt that the geologists and other men of Science at Sydney, New South Wales, are most anxious to take up the boring of a coral reef, which the recent expedition organized by the Royal Society, which the Lords [of Admiralty] gave such valuable aid, left incomplete.
The Society, appreciating no less than before the great scientific importance of the matter, are of the opinion that the completion of the boring may be more easily affected by means of an expedition starting from Australia than one sent, as was the former one, from England, and have promised a grant of money in aid of the attempt.
Harrison is to inquire if it would be possible for the Lords to co-operate with the suggested expedition by means of one of Her Majesty's vessels, in the same way that the 'Penguin' assisted the late expedition. It has been suggested the expedition should start from Sydney in December so that Professor David of the University of Sydney might superintend the operations during his academic vacation. Should this season be unsuitable for one of H M vessels, the Society are prepared to urge that another time should be chosen.
The present scheme is to continue the boring at the scene of the former attempt at Funafuti, but there is no reason why some fresh island should not be chosen, if the Lords should think this desirable, in order to carry out a fresh detailed survey.
The President and Council trust that the Lords, sharing the feelings of the Society, that a scientific effort made by a colony should receive as far as possible the support of the mother country, will give the request this made their most favourable consideration. |