CoLENSO. — Presidential Address. isl- 



and therefore it is the more imperative upon us, as a de- 

 termined and devoted though small band, devoid of those 

 large blessings which our elder sisters enjoy — in rich endow- 

 ments, princely gifts, resident learned scientific men, extensive 

 libraries and museums — to be active, to be penetrated with 

 that genuine esprit de corps which not infrequently more than 

 makes up for the want of everything else. In particular, let 

 the very proper and praiseworthy spirit be shown in your 

 attendance here on the regular nights of meeting — coming, 

 too, in time for the fixed hour of meeting, and also in uphold- 

 ing the proper status of our young society — I mean the carry- 

 ing-out all the standard rules in their integrity, particularly 

 Eule 3, which, I think, was too often infringed on during the 

 last year's session. I mention this as I have plainly per- 

 ceived that, if care is not taken, our ordinary meetings are 

 apt to degenerate into those of a low debating-club {Facilis 

 descensus Averni) ; and so we cease to remain an auxiliary 

 branch of the New Zealand Institute — a society founded for 

 a highly different purpose." 



And here I think I should remind the members of our 

 Institute that original papers written by other than members 

 themselves may be received and read at our ordinary meet- 

 ings. Such papers, of course, must be introduced by a 

 member. It would be well for our members to bear this 

 liberal manner of acting in mind. During this last session 

 three papers of this class were read here, written by non- 

 members, and I thank the writers. 



Closely connected with the number of papers read is the 

 present number of our members ; and I deeply regret to find 

 their number is slowly and sadly decreasing. This ought not 

 to be. Last year our report informed us of " a considerable 

 decrease in the membership, which then stood at eighty-four, 

 the smallest number on the books of the society for many 

 years past." This year the new report gives the remaining 

 number of them as seventy-four, four having resigned and two 

 died, to which, however, six new members have to be added, 

 making the present total of members eighty. Fairly consider- 

 ing the great, the important value of such an institution as 

 this, especially in a newly-settled country, and, with special 

 reference thereto, the great number of educated youths yearly 

 leaving school, one is tempted to ask. Why is it that so few of 

 them are found here with us — if not as enrolled members, 

 and co-workers, yet as visitors of our museum and library, 

 and hearers at our stated meetings, which are now thrown 

 open to the public? Is it so, that out of those many youths 

 and young men, several of whom gained high prizes at the 

 various school-examinations, and of whose future career high 

 hopes were entertained, there are none to be found in love 



