Hill. — On University Extension. 395 



arid kindred institutions. Darwin may be fairly taken as a 

 type of man whose unparalleled abilities as a naturalist and 

 philosopher were largely due to his early experiences, firstly 

 as a collector, and subsequently as an observer in the field. 

 His marvellous powers were certainly not acquired by book- 

 learning only, or by the passing of examinations, but almost 

 entirely by original research and patient study in the field. 

 There is no denying the fact that Darwin discovered the most 

 far-reaching law that has yet been discovered in connection 

 with biological science — i.e., the principle of natural selection 

 or the survival of the fittest, a discovery which is only 

 equalled by that of Sir Isaac Newton in astronomy. The 

 fact that Darwin began his scientific career as a collector of 

 beetles will, I trust, be taken by the Society as some excuse 

 for the amount of time I have occupied in delivering an 

 address on entomological collecting in New Zealand. 



Akt. L. — The Extension of University and Science Work in 



Neiv Zealand. 



By H. Hill, B.A., F.G.S. 



[Read before the Hazvke's Bay Philosophical Institute, 12th October, 1896 ] 



What is known as the "university extension movement" in 

 England has already reached its majority. The movement 

 was begun in the year 1873 by the governing authorities of 

 the University of Cambridge, who, having considered certain 

 memorials from a number of public bodies interested in the 

 advancement of education, including women's educational 

 associations, committees of industrial co-operative societies 

 and mechanics' institutes, decided " that the Syndicate be 

 empowered to make the experiment of organizing courses of 

 lectures at a limited number of centres, and to make pro- 

 vision for holding such examinations as they might consider 

 expedient, on condition that the requisite funds were guaran- 

 teed by the local authorities." The plan adopted by the 

 University rapidly grew in popularity, and the scope of the 

 work was widened, and soon other universities were engaged 

 in the movement, so that to-day every university in Great 

 Britain is engaged in carrying the higher thougbt and learn- 

 ing to the people by means of lectures under the guidance of 

 specialists in the various subjects of studj^. For the session 

 ending with the year 1891, which is the latest complete re- 

 turn I have, it appears that the University of Cambridge 



