Hamilton. — On our Knoivledge of the Oceanic Areas. 163 



In the matter of the forests at large, I have already said 

 that I think there is little fear of destruction by legitimate 

 use, but ravages from fire, especially in alpine districts, are to 

 be dreaded, and must be guarded against. I would urge 

 members to assist, when the time comes, in any way that they 

 can, the organization of a scientific Government control of all 

 the mighty forests of this land of ours. If the services of 

 properly-trained men were obtained, and the administration of 

 the State forests well organized, they might, I am sure, be 

 made within a very short time to return a substantial nett 

 income, more especially as the recent developments in the 

 timber trade in England seem to promise a new opening for 

 New Zealand woods, and, unless the opportunity is lost by 

 either carelessness or dishonest shipping, important results 

 may follow. It should be remembered that England imports 

 twenty million pounds' worth of timber annually. 



Art. XVIII. — On the Bisc and Progress of our Knoivledge 



of the Oceanic Areas. 



By A. Hamilton. 



[Being the Presidential Address delivered before the Members of the 

 Otago Institute, 12th November, 1895.'] 



Inhabiting as we do one of the outposts of civilisation, an 

 island remote from continental areas, situate in a commanding 

 position in the great Southern Ocean, our thoughts and actions 

 are largely influenced by our essentially marine environment, 

 and, apart from the commercial advantages that an extensive 

 coast-line gives us, most of us have an interest in the explora- 

 tion and unravelling of the mysteries of the sea. Thanks to 

 the w^onderful development of all branches of science during 

 the latter half of the present century, we may now hope 

 for things which only in the days of our fathers would have 

 been deemed impossible. It may perhaps interest you if this 

 evening I briefly trace some of the leading features in the 

 history of geographical exploration by the voyagers of the 

 bygone ages, and finally note some of the results of the most 

 memorable voyage of modern times — a voyage which has done 

 so much to establish the foundations of the science of ocean- 

 ography — the voyage of H.M.S. " Challenger." 



Commercial reasons have in nearly all cases been the 

 cause which led the hardy sailor to adventure his life in his 

 frail bark amid the dangers of unknown coasts, and in the 



