Auckland Institute. 703 



lication was too long, and that one of the most useful reforms they could 

 initiate would be the publication of a quarterly instead of an annual 

 volume. The best argument in favour of reading the papers was that it 

 gave an opportunity of discussing the subject; but discussion was'fre- 

 quently impossible because of the thing brought forward being a state- 

 ment of fact, and, when possible, was often avoided on the ground of 

 personal courtesy. They did not like to express publicly the opinion 

 that their next-door neighbour was a person whose judgment was always 

 wrong, and whose reasoning was invariably at fault. On the whole, he 

 was afraid they had no alternative in regard to their meetings ; they 

 would have to admit the reproach, and continue to be somewhat dull. 

 They might, however, derive satisfaction from the thought that the read- 

 ing of scientific papers was by no means the chief object of their ex- 

 istence, since they maintained an important public museum. He then 

 dealt with the great value of the Museum to the city, laying particular 

 stress on the importance of extending the popular branch of the collec- 

 tions, and of arranging and displaying them in the most interesting, in- 

 structive, and attractive manner possible. All this required space, and 

 space could only be obtained by subdividing the collections, and placing 

 a large portion of them in another building. What was, in his opinion, 

 absolutely necessary, if they were to make any further advance, was the 

 erection of an additional hall in which they could place their ethnolo- 

 gical collections, and especially their specimens of Maori workmanship. 

 While speaking of these Maori collections he parenthetically mentioned 

 the magnificent collection deposited by Captain Gilbert Mair, and took 

 the opportunity of tendering to that gentleman the thanks of the Insti- 

 tute and of the community. The President then went on to argue 

 that no grand, ornamental, permanent edifice was required, but one in 

 which attention was paid to the necessity for elasticity in the accom- 

 modation, for facility of modification, so that additions and rearrange- 

 ments could be effected without restriction. His experience with the 

 University College had impressed him with the superiority of temporary 

 buildings for young and growing institutions, because the expenditure of 

 small sums from time to time had resulted in the gradual adaptation of 

 means to ends. Of course it was absolutely necessary, in order that their 

 collections might be preserved, that the structure should be strong and 

 fireproof. He found, on the authority of his friend IMr. Bartley, that a 

 building 103ft. long and 50ft. wide could be erected on that particular 

 site for £610. The cost of fitting it up would be about £400, and the re- 

 arrangement of the exhibits now in tlie Museum would take about £200 

 more. This would be £1,200 in all, a sum well within their means. 

 They had recently received by a sale of a block of land on the Coroman- 

 del Peninsula a sum of £1,000, with an agreement to pay two other 

 thousands at intervals of a year. This sum they did not actually need 

 for the maintenance of the Museum, as last year they had not only paid 

 all ordinary fixed expenses, but had spent £50 in providing cases and 

 otherwise improving the interior of the building. Thus they were well 

 able to afford the cost of a modest but substantial building, and he 

 trusted that ere long they would be able to place before the public such 

 a well-ordered and completo collection of ]\Iaori workmanship as befitted 

 Auckland, as befitted a city the history of which was so intermingled 

 with that of the natives. 



On the motion of Dr. Bakewell, seconded hy the Rev. Dr. Purchas, 

 a vote of thanks was accorded the President for his address, several gentle- 

 men expressing approval of his suggestions relative to the erection of a 

 new building. 



The President acknowledged the compliment, and said the question 

 of erecting the building he had spoken of would no doubt bo fully con- 

 sidered by the Council. 



