2 INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 



Association being to promote the intercourse of those who 

 cultivate science in different parts of the Australasian Colonies 

 with one another, and with philosophers outside of our 

 borders, it occurred to me that I should be rendering a good 

 service to the Association if I could induce some eminent 

 men of science from the Old Country to take part in our 

 proceedings ; and it is with the greatest satisfaction that I 

 have been able to arrange that my friend Mr. Robert Giffen, 

 C.B., who, as you know, is one of the highest living authori- 

 ties on statistical and economic science, should pay a visit 

 to Austraha at this time and attend this gathering. 



As regards this branch of science, there never was a time 

 in the history of the world when there was a greater necessity 

 than there is now for a wider and clearer conception of 

 economic truths, for problems of the gravest import are 

 pressing for solution. While, on the one hand, no adjust- 

 ment of these problems based upon selfishness and individual 

 aggrandisement, or which does not recognise duties as well 

 as rights, can or ought to stand, on the other, there is no 

 small danger that an unwise acceptance of some of the more 

 advanced of what are commonly called socialistic views might 

 lead to the motives of human energy and of human exertion 

 being so lessened as to materially interfere, for a time at 

 least, with the progress and advancement of the human 

 race. I am not one of those who apprehend catastrophe 

 arising in the inevitable development of a new industrial and 

 social system, but if catastrophe does arise it wUl arise from 

 want of knowledge, and not, as some fear, from the preva- 

 lence of any spirit of anarchy. A wider and sounder know- 

 ledge of economic truths will, however, in my humble judg- 

 ment, in process of time lead not only to a satisfactory solution 

 of present social difficulties, but will tend to develop condi- 

 tions under which culture will be brought more within the 

 reach of all. We will all listen, I am sure, with the greatest 

 interest to any observations on economic or statistical science 

 which may be addressed to us by so great an authority as 

 Mr. Giffen. 



At one time I had great hopes that we should have been 

 favoured by the presence of Professor Huxley at this gather- 

 ing, but the state of his health unfortunately was such as not 

 to allow of his paying us a visit. I had hoped also that Sir 

 Robert Ball, the Astronomer Royal of Ireland, might have 



