GENTLEMEN I have to thank you very much for the honour you have conferred upon me by electing me President of the Institute for this year. On behalf of resident members, I have to offer the visitors a very cordial welcome to Mount Morgan, and to tell them that all arrangements have been made to enable them to inspect the mine and works at their own convenience, and to supply them with any particulars they may need. It is very pleasing indeed to see such a large gathering, especially on account of the long journeys many have undertaken in order to be present. The first congress in Queensland, about eleven years ago, was attended by a comparatively small number of members, and a rather long time has been allowed to pass in consequence. The large attendance at this meeting encourages the holding of meetings in Queensland more frequently. Owing to the long distances, and the number of mining centres in Australia and New Zealand, we cannot expect to meet oftener than once in six or seven years in Queensland. For this reason it has been suggested that a branch of the Institute should be formed in Queensland, on similar lines to those formed at Broken Hill and Kalgoorlie. It has not been decided yet whether it would be better to form two branches in this State-one with headquarters at Mount Morgan (the meetings of which would be accessible to members living in the southern part of the State), and another in the North. So much has been done for mining and metallurgical practice in Australia by the exchange of information in professional papers and discussions that it seems very desirable to have more local branches, which may hold frequent meetings and produce more contributions to our Transactions.