Before proceeding to deliver my address I desire to thank my fellow-members of the New Zealand Branch of the British Medical Association for the very high compliment they have paid me by electing me their President for the coming year, an honour which I very greatly appreciate. I also wish, on behalf of the members of the Wellington Section, to extend a hearty and cordial welcome to all our visitors. I regret to say that since our last annual meeting death has taken from our midst several of our members, men whom we could ill-afford to lose. I refer to the Hon. M. S. Grace, of the Legislative Council, a man who for forty years carried on the practice of his profession in Wellington, and won the affection, esteem, and regard not only of the members of the profession, but also of the large section of the community to whom he was known; Dr. Connolly, of Wanganui; Dr. Barnard, of Wanganui; Dr. Morice, of Greymouth; and Dr. Saunders, of Wanganui. On behalf of the Branch your Council has page 2 sent to the widows and families their deep sympathy and condolences.

You will see by the programme that we have a large number of papers for discussion—papers of considerable interest not only to the profession, but also to the public. Amongst them is a paper by Dr. Gow upon "Responsibility in Crime," which will be read on Thursday morning at 9.30; and, as a paper on such a subject would appear to have as much interest for the legal profession as for the medical, I do, on behalf of this branch of the British Medical Association, invite His Honour the Chief Justice, the Judges of the Supreme Court, Dr. McArthur, and any members of the legal profession who will honour us with their presence to take part in the discussion of that paper.