Hawke's Bay Philosophical Institute. 689 



Mr. Hill, on being called on by the President to say a few words, said 

 it gave him great pleasure to be present on such an occasion, because it 

 seemed to him that they were for once trying to carry out the object 

 which the society had had in view for a number of years past. 

 While in their midst they had a man of scientific attainments such as 

 were recognized in Europe and America, yet he (the speaker) often 

 wondered whether Mr. Colenso was as well known here in this 

 town, where he had resided for half a century, as the ordinary handi- 

 capper or jockey who rode in a race. They had a man amongst them 

 of whom the citizens of Napier, and other inhabitants of New Zealand, 

 should be proud. Whilst listening to Mr. Colenso reading his remarkable 

 papers those present must have been struck by the variety of knowledge 

 which he brought forward from time to time to interest and instruct. 

 Year after year the same untiring energy was manifested by him, and 

 that, too, at an age when most men would have given up pursuits of a 

 scientific nature. Mr. Colenso still came to them trying to point out the 

 pathways of science which he himself had trodden with pleasure — a plea- 

 sure that he transmitted to his audience. Was it not sufficient to urge 

 the younger members on, to think that here was a gentleman of over four- 

 score years, who yet followed the hobby of his life, and was yet desirous 

 of leaving a record behind him of things he had seen, of conclusions he 

 had arrived at from his scientific pursuits ? He (Mr. Hill) had looked 

 upon Mr. Colenso as a teacher ; and he had never been in his presence 

 without feeling that his life was an example, a sermon, and everything 

 that was good and noble. He was pleased to think that the Philosophical 

 Society was at last trying to recognize its duty towards the founder of the 

 Institute. Mr. Colenso had nursed the society since its inception, and 

 looked after it until it had come to be known throughout New Zealand 

 as one of the strongest in the colony. The present members of the 

 society did not need anything to remind them of Mr. Colenso's qualities 

 of goodness, but they must remember that nature in time to come would 

 demand her own, and he, like all others, must pass away. Those who 

 came after would need a reminder, and, when they saw this picture 

 hanging in the Museum which would become theirs some day, they 

 would know that it was the picture of a good and gracious man. He 

 trusted that there were many years before Mr. Colenso yet in whicli he 

 would come amongst them, and inspire them as he had inspired them in 

 days gone by, and that he would be encouraged by this small effort which 

 the society had made to keep him in remembrance. 



The Rev. Mr. Colenso, in returning thanks for the present, said he 

 hardly knew what to say, so many things in his remembrance were 

 crowding into his mind. The coming month of December would make it 

 sixty years since he first came to Hawke's Bay, having landed in com- 

 pany with the late Bishop Williams, first Bishop of Waiapu, and the 

 bishop elect, who was then a mere boy. Since his arrival in Napier on 

 that occasion he had resided here up till the present time. Mr. Colenso 

 then went on to refer briefly to his connection with the Hawke's Bay 

 Philosophical Institute, remarking that, though he last year to all intents 

 and purposes bade farewell to the Institute, it had pleased God to restore 

 him to health and vigour. He also referred to the services rendered by 

 Mr. Hamilton as Curator before his removal to Dunedin, who, by his 

 interest and whole-heartedness in the work, was, in a very large measure, 

 responsible for the splendid collection of specimens the society now held. 

 He (Mr. Colenso) hoped the time would come, and at no distant period, 

 when the Institute would own a museum, where their valuable specimens 

 could be properly taken care of. In conclusion, he asked the society to 

 accept the picture as a present from him. 



44 



