Newspaper reports relating to the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science, Hobart, 1892. "Australasian Association for the advancement OF SCIENCE. Several members of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science arrived in the city yesterday by the inter colonial steamers, some of whom went direct to Hobart, while others remained in the city, but leave for the capital this afternoon. Amongst those who arrived were Baron Von Mueller, the dis tinguished scientist, who has taken some interest in this colony's re sources, Professor W. Baldwin Spencer, M.A., professor of biology at the Melbourne University, who was general secretary at the Melbourne meeting; the Rev. Lorimer Fison, an able worker in the South Sea mission fields; Dr. Robert Giffen, L.L.D., C.ll.; Captain Pascoe, R.N.; Mr Napier Bell, C.E.; Professors Hutton, Nerich, Smith, and Morris, and Mr Richard Teece, F.T.A., the well-known actuary of the A.M.P. Society. A large number of other distinguished members also arrived. Judge Dorkerwho also arrived, was con ducted over the Exhibition in the after noon, and expressed pleasure with what he saw. His Honor leaves by express train to-day for Hobart. The hon. Dr. Campbell was met by Mr Arthur Day, the official agent for Great Britain to the Exhibition, an old friend, who conducted him over the Exhibition. The doctor confined his attention principally to the dry ore concentrator, in which he takes a great interest. He will, however, visit the Exhibition again after the meetings in Hobart has been brought to a termination. What he has seen of the Exhibition has impressed him favourably. (Launceston Advertiser, 6 January 1892.) "TASMANIA. AUSTALASIAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. The fourth congress of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science was commenced in Hobart at 11. o'olock on Thursday by the general Council assembling at the Royal Society's rooms, at the Museum. There was a good attendance, including the Governor, Sir B. G. Hamilton. In the absence of the president, Sir James Hector, the chair was occupied by Baron Von Muellor. In the afternoon Lady Hamilton gave a garden party at Government House to 600 guests, including the members of the association, the Judges, the members of the Ministry, and leading citizens." (Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners' Advocate, 9 January 1892.)Two sepia photographs mounted onto charcoal mount. A group of men in hats and coats, and women in hats and long dresses assemble in front of a double story building, thought to be Henry Dobson's of Ferntree near Hobart. In the background stumps of large trees are evident. The event was a garden party held in for members of the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science who met in Hobart in 1892. .1 F.J. Martell of the Ballarat School of Mines is seated between two women in the right hand foreground. James Oddie, with white beard and top hat, is standing in the centre foreground between two women. .2) James Oddie is standing with cane in hand on the right of the bench in the foreground of the photo. australasian association for the advancement of science, hobart, oddie, james oddie, martell, von mueller, baldwin spencer, lorimer fison, robert giffen, napier bell, arthur day, dobson, henry dobson

This photo is thought to have been taken at the time of Alfred Mica Smith's retirement from the Ballarat School of Mines. It is most probably also the unveiling of the Max Meldrum portrait of Smith. Alfred Mica Smith retired from the Ballarat School of Mines in 1922 after an association of 41 years and aged 78 years. At the August meeting of the Ballarat School of Mines Council in 1881 it was resolved that 'Alfred Mica Smith Esq., B.Sc., be appointed Professor in Chemistry and Metallurgy and be Superintendent of the Laboratories, for the period of twelve months at a stipend of five hundred pounds per annum, and to commence duty as soon as possible'. (signed: James Oddie, Vice-President) Smith played a major role in the years of 1887-1893 when SMB was affiliated with Melbourne University. In 1912 he became Professor of Metallurgy and received an annual salary of 250 pounds. Alfred Mica Smith presented many scholarly papers, gave evidence at government enquiries into the safety of mines and became an authority on mine safety and ventilation. He was on the Mines Ventilation Board. Professor Smith was the public analyst for the City of Ballarat and Town of Ballarat East, as well as to a number of other boroughs and shires. He was also Chief juror to the Adelaide International Exhibition, chemical section. He provided information to the Royal Commission on gold mining (1889, 1891), and was President to the chemistry section of Australian Association for the Advancement of Science, Associate of American and Australasian Institute of Mining Engineering, Member of the Science Faculty Melbourne University, and Hon. Life Member of the Miner Managers' Association of Australia. He also was involved in many educational and community affairs such as President of the SMB Students' Association, President of the Ballarat Science Society, first President of the Ballarat Camera Club, Vice President of the Field Naturalists' Club, and he presented Ballaarat Fine Art Gallery with his collection of paintings and porcelain ware. His legacies include the mutual regard between him and his students, the many tributes by former students, the Mica Smith scholarship (established in 1923) and now known as the Corbould-Mica Smith Travelling Scholarship, his portrait in oils by noted artist Max Meldrum, and the marble bust of Smith sculptured by Paul Montford. Money for a scholarship in sanitary science at the University of Manchester in the name of his uncle R. A. Smith was left being set up in 1928. Smith died of cancer on 14 May 1926 and his remains, cremated at Springvale, were interred in the Ballaarat New Cemetery. See http://guerin.ballarat.edu.au/curator/honour-roll/honourroll_Smith,%20Alfred%20Mica.shtml Black and white mounted photograph showing a number of men sitting around two dining tables at Craig's Royal Hotel in Ballarat. Professor Alfred Mica Smith of the Ballarat School of Mines is standing 15 from the left, and is the subject of the painting on an easel to the left. The painting was presented to the Ballarat Fine Art GalleryLower right of mount 'Victa Studios Ballarat' Verso (typed and glued on): Presentation to professor Mica Smith, Craig's Hotelballarat school of mines, craig's hotel, craig's royal hotel, alfred mica smith, art gallery of ballarat, ballarat fine art gallery, portrait, frederick martell, daniel walker