14 ENCOUKAGEMENT OF INTEREST IN SCIENTIFIC PURSUITS. 



But while I would not depreciate the value of such papers, 

 which are and must be the most important that can come 

 before the Society, yet I would urge whether papers of 

 another kind might not also be encouraged. 



In so small a community as ours the savants can never be 

 numerous, but there is, or with a little encouragement there 

 might be, a considerable number among us who would eagerly 

 and intelligently enter on scientific pursuits if facilities were 

 offered : and surely the fostering of this general interest, 

 and the creation of a wide-spread scientific taste throughout 

 our community are well worthy of any attention and assistance 

 this Society can give. In the long run they will yield 

 results of practical value, and also materially add to the 

 prosperity and influence of the Society itself. 



It must be remembered that opportunities for self-instruc- 

 tion in all local branches of science (by which I mean our 

 local geology, botany, natural history and the like) are very 

 few as compared with what have been provided for English 

 students. 



Ihere every branch has not only its well recognised and 

 standard authorities, but also its popular text-books in which 

 the subject is presented in a simpler and more approachable 

 style. 



Here our authorities are few, test-books hardly exist, and 

 English works are in many cases unsuitable. We are at a 

 great disadvantage in this respect, and are much more 

 dependent upon the direct teaching of our scientists them- 

 selves, and for this reason I would ask this Society to consider 

 whether means cannot be devised for affording instruction 

 of a more elementary and general kind. 



There must be not a few who sometimes attend these 

 meetings, and very many others who at present never think of 

 becoming members, to whom such opportunities would be 

 welcome, and, who by means of such assistance, would be 

 enabled to follow up chosen studies on their own account, and 

 to take a livelier interest in the more advanced and specialised 

 papers that are read here, which at present are too often, I 

 fear, interesting only to a few. 



It is not to be expected that we can inspire everybody with 

 a love for scientific pursuits. The tastes and talents of many 

 will always lie in other directions. But good only can result 

 from any effort that may be made to encourage and develop 

 such a love wherever its germ exists, and I do not see any 

 other organisation that is as well qualified to do the work as 

 this Society. 



I want to see the rising genei'ation more interested than 

 they appear to be in the physical history of their native 

 colonv, its fauna and flora, and so forth. At present these 



