Presidential Address. 10 1 



directed which is closed to us is politics. At every annual meeting of the representatives 

 it is one of our duties to remember that as Governors of the Institute we should order 

 our proceedings that we may show that we are, as a united whole, working for the progress 

 of science in New Zeala,nd upon sound and well-considered lines. It is more especially 

 the duty of the local societies to be loyal to the Institute in these matters. From 

 geogra])hical circumstances over which we have no control it is not practicable for the 

 Board of Governors to meet together as often as could be desired, but at the annual 

 meeting I hope that sufficient time will be given to the discussion of all matters con- 

 cerning the management of the Institute. 



It will be noticed that the present Act differs from the old one, in which the local 

 societies were aiifiliated to the New Zealand Institute. By the present Act the societies 

 named are the Institute. By the regulations made by the Board of Governors, however, 

 the local societies are permitted to enjoy the whole management of their affairs. For 

 the futiu-e of the Society I have no fear, and, with due care in the administration of its 

 affairs, it will successfully and worthily till the place to which it as been called in this 

 coimtry. 



During the i>ast year there has been an alteration in the form of the annual volume, 

 and a separate publication of the Proceedings has been carried out. The report of the 

 Publication Committee will give you the necessary information as to the financial aspect 

 of the change. With regard to the view taken by the members of the change in form, 

 we shall no doubt hear from the members of the Board. I think, however, there are 

 many benefits which can b.e claimed as justifying the change. Unfortunately, however, 

 it does not appear that the Publishing Committee have been able to get the printing 

 done as quickly as they hoped. In connection with this there is the question of the 

 number of the volumes to be printed to be considered. I think it will be found that a 

 smaller issue will be sufficient. 



In connection with the scientific publications issued during the year, not under 

 the auspices of the Institute, must be mentioned the two splendid volumes on the Sub- 

 antarctic Islands of New Zealand, edited by Dr. Chilton, and published by the Philo- 

 sophical Institute of Canterbury. These are a worthy monument of a well-organized 

 expedition made by the members of the Canterbury Philosophical Institute and others 

 to the southern islands. In every res]iect the work seems worthy of high praise, and we 

 miist, I am sure, admire the courage of the Canterbury Institute in taking u]Hin them- 

 selves for a time the financial responsibility for the printing of the work, and I feel 

 sure that before long they will have disposed of the whole edition. The printing of the 

 text and plates is highly creditable to the Government Printing Office. 



I aLso notice in the report of the National Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1904, tho 

 magnetic observations published by the Royal Society, and this vohmie contains some 

 important work from the Christchurch Observatory. Dr. Chree, in his historical notes, 

 makes reference to the great zeal with which Dr. Farr and Mr. Skey entered into the 

 co-operative scheme of observations suggested by the Royal Society, and of the interest 

 and imi>ortance of the information which they transmitted. He points out that magnetic 

 stations in the Southern Hemisphere are so few in number that it was particularly useful 

 to obtain so ample a record of observations from Christchurch, which is the nearest 

 observatory to tho Antarctic winter quarters of the " Discovery." 



It is satisfactory to learn that Mr. Suter has completed the manuscript of his 

 "MoUusca of New Zealand," and that steps are now being taken to commence tho series 

 of illustrations which is to accom.pany the volume when jmblished. 



The report of the trawling expeditions issued by the Marine Department I have 

 already noticed. It contains a large amount of valuable and reliable information. I 

 should also mention the parliamentary papers by Dr. Cocka3Tie on " Sand-dunes " and 

 on the " Vegetation of Stewart Island " as being excellent up-to-date re])orts on im- 

 portant matters. 



At one of the recent annual meetings I suggested that it was desirable to include 

 in the Proceedings short resumes of papers published in other countries directly afi'ecting 

 New Zealand subjects. I am glad to say a few have been so included. There is, I think, 

 considerable room for further development in this respect, and any member having the 

 time and opportunity would do good work if he would take this matter under special 

 consideration. Even if he is not an expert in the particular paper that lie notices, he 

 might hand it over to some one who is an expert in that subject to make an extract or 

 abstract. 



Two very important matters appear on the horizon in which we are deeply interested, 

 and concerning which I trust we shall hear more from the members of the Board of 

 Governors during this meeting. The fir.st is the proposed meeting of the British Associa- 

 tion in Australia at an early date. If matters are arranged so that this meeting will take 



