INTRODUCTION. 
‘Tue Natural Science Society has completed the second year of its existence, 
and it is now possible to form some opinion as to the degree in which it has 
e fulfilled the hopes of its first promoters. 
It was found in the course of the first year, that, while there was no 
falling off in the number of members, there was a lack of work. Members 
"were content to listen: but, with some notable exceptions, they did not 
_ readily either make the effort to gain new experience for themselves, or to 
communicate to others the results of such as they already possessed. It 
3 was thought that a less formal style of meeting might tend to remedy this, 
Y and call out the energies of all who had the will to do real work. A plan 
q was therefore adopted, similar in the main to that now in use at Marlborough, 
: and this is now in working order. Those who desired it (up to a certain 
number) grouped themselves into separate sections, each with a special object 
a Yn view. Certain rules for the organization of these were made, and the 
members pledged themselves to aid by their own personal observation and 
_ work the study of the Natural History of the neighbourhood. The unity of 
ee the Society was maintained by frequent general meetings. It is obvious that 
the ila energy of these Sections must ree from time to Haney fr but a 
tai oa, To aes up the real working spirit is the fundamental difficulty 
Society like ours, and yet without it no permanent good can be done. 
seat the Society i in their favourite bey we cannot refrain from 
sing our belief that the vitality of the Society can only be maintained 
gh pitch by the exertions of each member to be both a learner and a 
in some branch of Natural Science. 
