PREFACE. 

 THE CAWTHRON LECTURE. 



The Trustees resolved on May 4th, 1917, that there should be 

 an annual 'Scientific Lecture of a popular character in memory ot 

 Thomas Cawthron, the Founder of the Institute. 



The first public announcement by the Trustees was made at 

 the inaugural lecture delivered by Professor Easterfield on July 

 10th, 1917, in the School of Music, Nelson. The Bishop of Nelson, 

 Chairman of the Trustees, presided over a large and representative 

 gathering. In addition to the Trustees, there were on the platform 

 the Mayor of Nelson (Mr W. Wallace Snodgrass), the Hon. A. T. 

 Mao-innity, M.L.C., the Principal of Nelson College (Mr H. L. 

 Fowler), the Principal of the Girls' College (Miss Lorimer) and the 

 Editor of the "Colonist" (Mr Hastings Braddell). 



In his introductory remarks, the Chairman said he trusted that 

 the lecture of that evening would be the first of many scientific gath- 

 erings. He would not then say anything as to the generosity of Mr 

 Cuwthron in providing means for scientific research. The words of the 

 will were simple. The Trustees had very wide powers, so wide indeed 

 that they had induced many suggestions, some not at all wise, and 

 some useful. It wa's, however, a case of what they were able to 

 do, not what they would like to do. As to several of Mr. Caw- 

 thron's proposed benefactions, which had he lived he would un- 

 doubtedly have carried out, the Trustees had had to take the opinion 

 of the Court, and very much against their personal wishes some had 

 io be dropped. The speaker then detailed the setting up of a 

 Commission of scientific men, who met in Nelson, and whose 

 deliberations led to the evolution of the scheme which the Trustees 

 had now in hand. The central idea was to do one thing well and 

 not spread effort over too large a field and thereby lose effectiveness. 

 The one thing they had adhered to strictly was the in- 

 vestigation of biological and chemical problems bearing 

 on the agricultural industries of New Zealand. It was 

 not intended to enter upon all of these subjects at once, nor to 

 go in for any great building : they were looking for brains rather 

 than for bricks. One thing at a time and that done well waft 

 +heir aim, and the expressed wishes of the Founder of the Institute 

 would ever be kept in view. There were two dangers which the 

 Trustees were specially anxious to avoid in order that the spirit of 

 those wishes should be given effect to, and those dangers were com- 

 mercialism and officialdom, Every care would be taken to avoid 



