XXVlll EVENING MEETINGS. 



supports this meeting in his vice-regal capacity. Each of these meetings 

 is like a link in the chain which will lengthen as the years roll on, which 

 will strengthen as generations pass by, and, as far as human foresight 

 and human forethought go, we can expect that they will last through 

 centuries. We owe to the British Association that great advance of 

 science, and especially of applied knowledge, which has been made 

 throughout the world. I shall avail myself also of the opportunity to 

 tender my honoured colleagues in l\Ielbourne, the office-bearers, and the 

 originator of this movement, and all who shared in the formation of this 

 society, my grateful acknowledgments. I do this all the more as I cannot 

 hope to attend many of these meetings on future occasions. At best, by 

 Divii:ie grace, there can be but only a few more meetings in which I can 

 have the privilege of sharing. I have also to add a word which is one of 

 sadness. We sadly miss one from amongst us — from the scene of his 

 labours, from the i3rincipal place of his trials — we miss Sir Julius von 

 Haast. Now, in fulfilling what is really the duty which devolves on me 

 this evening — the introduction of the President at this inaugural meeting 

 — let me say that he is one who took part in the exploration of the Rocky 

 Mountains in 1857-60. Some thirty years ago he was selected for the 

 position he now holds under the Government of New Zealand, which he 

 has so worthily filled to this time, and during this period he has exer- 

 cised a great, an enormous influence upon the development of his 

 adopted country. Sir James Hector stands high in the scientific world 

 by the universalitj' of his knowledge. It is remarkable in how many 

 directions he has been useful ; and of the application of his knowledge 

 there are many testimonies existing. If any testimony were wanting, 

 it is to be found in the series of volumes published by the New Zea- 

 land Institute. They show in a remarkable manner the power of his 

 administrative abilities and the great amount of his own research, 

 which resulted in this long series of volumes ; for, although in all the 

 colonies there has been an honourable and noble competition in science. 

 New Zealand carries the palm by the long series of publications of its 

 Institute. I beg with pleasure to induct Sir James Hector into the 

 Presidential chair ; and I trust. Sir, that your term will be, as I feel sure 

 it will be, a glorious success. 



Baron von Mueller then vacated the chair, which was taken by Sir 

 James Hector. 



His Excellency the Governor of Ne%v Zealand said : Sir James 

 Hector, ladies and gentlemen, — Before proceeding to any further business 

 this evening, I ask 3'our permission to sa}' a few words of welcome to those 

 who are strangers in our midst upon the occasion of their visiting New 

 Zealand. I think nothing strikes the English visitor to the colonies more 

 than the constant recurrence of institutions similar to those which he has 

 left behind him in England. He finds that the colonies have grafted on 

 to their social system those institutions which the experience of nine 

 centuries has enabled England to bring to their present perfection. At 

 the same time you have carefully striven to prevent, and at their first 

 appearance to uproot, those evils from which the Mother-country has not 

 yet been able to free herself. Thus you find the same beautiful forms of 

 •divine worship in Christchurch Cathedral, in your churches and chapels, 

 as we have at Home. The youth of all classes have the advantages of 

 elementary education as they have at Home, with this difference : that 

 here it is without direct cost to the parents, who are relieved of the charge 

 of their children during the troublesome years of infancy, and who, b}' leav- 

 ing them at school till riper years, may obtain for them something more than 

 an education which is elementary. You have public schools on the lines of 

 those of Eton and Harrow, to whose agency illustrious statesmen and 

 warriors have attributed much of England's pre-eminence among nations; 

 a,nd you possess richly-endowed institutions for training adults, not only 



