136 Transactions. — Miscellaneous. 



governors of the New Zealand Institute from its creation in 

 1867. Mr. Mantell arrived in New Zealand in 1840, and 

 worked hard and long in the pursuit of natural zoological 

 science, especially in the collecting fossil osteological remains 

 of those many kinds of enormous land-birds (once common in 

 New Zealand, but long extinct) popularly known by the 

 name of vioa, though now separated into several distinct 

 genera by the aid of still more extensive and perfect modern 

 acquisitions, obtained from all parts of the colony, in which 

 scientific work I may also (and with pleasure) mention the 

 name of our former respected and indefatigable secretary and 

 curator, Mr. Augustus Hamilton, of whose loving zeal and 

 assiduity and knowledge our museum bears ample testimony. 

 Indeed, the closing word of Sir Christopher Wren's epitaph 

 (the architect of St. Paul's) is equally applicable here to 

 Hamilton — " circumspice." 



And, having made that little digression, I may here fitly 

 quote, from a late paper of mine touching on the moa and 

 Mr. Mantell (read before the Wellington Philosophical Society 

 in 1892), what Dr. Mantell, his father, had published respect- 

 ing the first lot of moa-bones he had received from his son in 

 New Zealand. The Doctor says, " The first collection sent to 

 England by my son in 1847 consisted of nearly 900 specimens; 

 I gave Professor Owen the exclusive privilege of describing 

 them."* I feel the more inclined to relate this circumstance 

 as being an apt illustration of the pursuit of knowledge under 

 difficulties, and as an encouragement to our young men of this 

 generation and district to "go and do likewise." 



Before, however, I quit this sad subject there are yet two 

 more names I would bring before you from the long and 

 mournful death-roll of men of science in 1895. The first is 

 that of the Eight Hon. Thomas H. Huxley, LL.D., F.E.S., 

 and P.O., who died in June last. Mr. Huxley was also an 

 honorary member of our New Zealand Institute, having been 

 elected so long back as 1872 (together with Sir George Grey, 

 in that year). He had also been out here in the southern 

 seas as assistant - surgeon on board H.M.S. " Eattlesnake," 

 on a surveying expedition in Torres Strait. During his four 

 years' cruise and service on board the "Eattlesnake" he 

 wrote several scientific papers, which were sent home by him 

 to England, and published during his absence. I well re- 

 member this ship, with Captain Hobson (afterwards our first 

 Governor), in 1836, at anchor in the Bay of Islands; and 

 mentionmg this serves to bring vividly to mind our distin- 

 guished New Zealand botanist Sir J. D. Hooker, who had 

 also filled a similar official situation on board H. M. S. 



* " Status quo " : Trans. N.Z. Inst., vol. xxiv., p. 472. 



