HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF INSTITUTE. PIERS. Ixxiil 



dropping of a single word is but a little matter in itself, but 

 it widened the scope of the society to a large exjbent. It was 

 felt that while " natural science " was retained in the name, 

 others would consider it -to be merely a natural history 

 association, and it was found difficult to get general scientific 

 organizations to exchange with it. It was also thought that 

 no limitations should be be placed on what the society should 

 consider its field. As a result of this change, we have since 

 had a number of papers on physical and chemical subjects, etc* 

 I am aware that one of the most learned biologists of the 

 United States regrets very much that we have departed 

 from our old tradition of admitting only papers which have 

 a manifest local bearing, leaving such purely technical 

 papers as have been mentioned for the special journals 

 which are devoted to such subjects. 



Down to the time now under consideration, the Institute 

 had had the field of science in Nova Scotia all to itself, for 

 the Gold Miners' Association of about 1884 published little 

 or nothing. On 30th March, 1892, however, the Mining 

 Society of Nova Scotia was organized, absorbed the Gold 

 Miners' Association, and began to publish its yearly " Journal." 

 Although all of the papers which appear in the latter might 

 not, possibly, be suitable for the Institute, yet there is no 

 doubt it has deflected to itself a number of contributions 

 which we would be glad to have had. 



In December, 1906, the engineers formed an organization 

 of their own, known as the Nova Scotia Society of Engineers; 

 but publication so far does not seem to have been adequately 

 taken up by them. It is to be hoped, perhaps, that some 

 sort of affiliation may be possible among these various societies. 



The foundation of the Royal Society of Canada in 1882 

 has also had a marked effect on the production of our Insti- 

 tute, as many papers on Nova Scotian subjects have appeared 

 in the more notable society's publications, which otherwise 

 would have been given to our own. 



