INAUGUKAL ADDRESS. 21 



I may say, in conclusion, that I have the most perfect 

 confidence in the success of this Association. It is twenty- 

 four years ago since Mr. Travers got an Act j)assecl con- 

 stituting the New Zealand Institute, which was in a small 

 way an '' association for the advancement of science.'' It 

 was in an endeavour to combine the efforts of the workers 

 in the cause of science in all parts of the colony that the 

 Institute was formed. How it succeeded is known to you 

 all. Baron von Mueller has attributed this success to me. 

 I must disclaim it ; it is due to the manner in which, 

 despite local jealousies, the Institute has been supported 

 by the public, and to the zeal and enthusiasm of its 

 members throughout the colony. This Association is an 

 extension of the principle of the Institute to the whole of 

 the colonies. I think it is necessary for these colonies, if 

 they are ever to become a nation, to apply the principle 

 still further, and to federate. I have again to thank you, 

 and to hope that you may have a pleasant sojourn in New 

 Zealand. If I have succeeded in showing our visitors from 

 Australia that New Zealand has great capabilities for 

 scientific research, then I have not altogether failed to 

 justify the choice of New Zealand as our place of meeting 

 for this year. 



