Ninth Annual Meeting. 79 



however, succeeded in obtaining the hearty co-operation of the citizens, as is proved 

 by the fact that nearly £20,000 has been either bequeathed or subscribed by private 

 liberality for the endowment or advancement of the Museum. The Wellington 

 Philosophical Society, if I may be allowed to say so, lags behind a little, and does 

 not show a membership as numerous as should be the case in the capital city ol 

 the Dominion. This is much to be regretted, for it is to the Wellington Society 

 that we must look for some local movement which will result in obtaining a per- 

 manent home for the library of the New Zealand Institute, and in rendering it 

 available for the use of students. 



As for the future, it lies in the hands of the affiliated societies. They are the 

 Institute ; their members prepare the papers to be published in the Transactions ; 

 their delegates form a majority of the Board of Governors ; in their separate dis- 

 tricts they keep alive the interest in the Institute. I see no reason why the Institute 

 should not advance as well and as regularly in the future as in the past, provided 

 that one little matter is kept in mind. It is this : Let the affiliated societies alone ; 

 make no attempt to tighten the framework which binds them together ; avoid even 

 the appearance of interfering with their local freedom. To again quote Mr. Asquith's 

 words, our motto should be " Perfect autonomy, with co-operation." 



