INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 13 



the remarkable deviations from the normal in direction and 

 force of the magnetic currents^ such as are experienced in 

 Japan, are also found in New Zealand. For it is e\ddent 

 that, if they are in any way related to the condition of 

 stress induced by cross-fractures in the earth's crust, 

 the observation would tend to eliminate the local in- 

 fluence of the volcanic rocks which are present in one 

 case and absent in the other. With reference to earth- 

 quakes also, few, if any, but very local shocks exjierienced 

 in New Zealand have originated from any volcanic focus 

 we are acquainted with, while the westerly propagation 

 of the ordinary slight vibrations rarely passes the great 

 fault that limits active volcanic disturbance on its eastward 

 side. In Japan, also, out of about 480 shocks, which 

 are felt each year in that countiy, eacli of which, on an 

 average, shakes about one thousand square miles, there 

 are many that cannot be ascribed to volcanic origin. There 

 are many other problems of practical importance that can 

 only be studied from the base-line of a properly-equipped 

 observatory. These will readily occur to students of 

 physics, who are better acquainted with the subject than 

 I am. 



I can only express the hope that the improved circum- 

 stances of the colony will soon permit some steps to be 

 taken. Already in this city, I understand, some funds have 

 been subscribed. As an educational institution, to give 

 practical application to our studies in physical science, 

 geodesy, and navigation, it would clearly have a specific 

 value that would greatly benefit the colony. 



Another great branch of physical science, chemistry, should 

 be of intense interest to the colonists in a new country. 

 Much useful work has been done, though not by many 

 workers. The chief application of this science has been, 

 naturally, to promote the development of mineral wealth, to 

 assist agriculture, and for the settlement of fiscal and 

 sanitary questions. I cannot refrain from mentioning 

 the name of William Skey, Analyst to the Geological 

 Survey, as the chemist whose researches, during the last 

 twenty-eight years, have far surpassed any other in New 



