xlvi PROCEEDINGS, 



tlmsian views prevail. Utopia with perfect peace, continuous bliss, 

 j()y, and love for all, is necessarily an inipossihiiity, and encourage- 

 ment of any such idea a snare to the weak and emotional. The 

 world cannot be othenvise than one of strife, both of brain and 

 muscle, and the struggle must continue, of the weak with the strong 

 and of the oppressed with the oppressor, however much we may 

 disguise the unavoidable in euphonious terms. 



While excess in all things is to be deprecated, and over- 

 indulgence in speculations in matters of science is to be avoided, a 

 generalization or two gives a fillip to encpiiry and is helpful to the 

 student. As a stimulus to observation it may for the moment be 

 assumed there is no reason why the same systematic and orderly 

 approach to the fields of the unknown, which method modern 

 research inculcates, should not l)e adopted also to the realms of 

 thought, nor why we should not assume that the energy of intelli- 

 gence and the limitations to voluntary action may not also be 

 under the dominion of law. 1 f this be so, who shall say little is left 

 in the field of science for the observer outside the walls of a college 

 and a laboratory? 



W. McKerron presented the treasurer's report, which having 

 been audited and found correct, was received and adopted. 



The report on the library was presented by H. Piers, showing 

 that 2,330 books and pamphlets had l)een received by the Institute 

 through its exchange-list during the calendar year 1904, anl 1,35-i 

 had been received during nine months of the present year (1905), 

 viz., January to Sej)tember. Increased use of the library was also 

 I'eported as shown by the number of books borrowed during the 

 year 1904, viz. 519, as against '<J96 in 1903. Particulars were also 

 given of the total number of books and pamphlets received during 

 the year 1904 by the Provincial Science Library with which the 

 books of the Institute are incorporated. This nundier was 3,115, 

 of which 2,330 were the society's exchanges as above-mentioned. 

 The report was received and adopted. 



The secretary reported that the Kings County Branch of the 

 Institute lad not met during; this session of 1904-5. 



