104 Proceedings. 



Already, as pointed out, the ^laori language is a matriovilation subject, and 1, fov 

 one, hope that the Senate may be brought to see that the Governments of England 

 and other countries are fast recognising that where the Oovernments of dependencies 

 of the British Empire have to do with alien races it is of paiamount importance that 

 the rulers should study and have a good working knowledge of the language, manners, 

 and customs of the people that the3r have to govern. It is for the Senate and the Go\xrn- 

 ment to see that our young students are not placed at a disadvantage bj' the lack of 

 opportunity to study this important subject. 



In conchxsion, I feel that, instead of dwelling xipon matters closely connected with 

 the work of the Institute, I should probably have been trying to present to you a sum- 

 mary of the recent advances in the world of science, and to point out to you the real 

 benefits conferred on the human race by our increased knowledge — ^to recognise, in fact, 

 that our onward i^rogress in the sciences is always towards raising and bettering the 

 lives of those around us, to finally become the heritage of those who follow us in the 

 chain of life. 



I remember many presidential addresses which have greatly aided me and others 

 by pointing out subjects for research in such a way that we thought no more of the toil 

 and the unyielding patience required in our work, but only of the high aims and possi- 

 bilities and of the ultiniate unity and full relationship of all knowledge. 



Of something far more deeply interfused, ^ 



Whose dwelling is tlie light of setting suns, 



And the round ocean and the living air, 



And the blue sky, and in the mind of man : 



A motion and a spirit, that impels 



All thinking things, all objects of all thought, 



And rolls through all things. 



It is not for me, however, to speak in such a strain to the Governors of this Institute ; 

 but I can take the opportunity to tirge them to continue without weariness to give their 

 help, counsel, and encouragement to the members of the Institute, that the'y may he 

 inspired to labour earnestly in the pursuit of truth, and that thej^ may thus be led on 

 to make new discoveries for the benefit of mankind. For, notwithstanding the accumu- 

 lated knowledge of nature's laws, and of their apjilicat'on to our needs, which the ^\'orld 

 now possesses — ^thanks to the work of those great men, past and present, wlio 

 have devoted themselves to the cause of science, and for the result of whose lahoin-s 

 the world cannot be too thankful — still, what Newton calls " the vast ocean of truth '' 

 lies practically unexplored around us. Every item of knowledge we obtain only shows 

 us how much more there is to know ; and, while many departments of human life and 

 interest may always remain beyond the poM'er of man to fathom, the possibilities dis- 

 closed by recent discoveries are such as to susgest that the future may have in store 

 discoveries still more startling and brilliant, in the light of which o\ir kno\<'ledge of to-day 

 will appear but pale and dim in the eyes of posterity. 



