AUCKLAND INSTITUTE. 
First MxxrING. 28th May, 1877. 
R. C. Barstow, President, in the chair. 
New Members.—R. Cameron, P. Dignan, M.H.R., J. H. Greenway, 
B. E. Hughes, J. Symons, J. L. Tole, E. K. Tyler. 
The President then delivered the following anniversary 
ADDRESS. 
In the first place I must thank you for the honour which you have conferred upon me 
in electing me as your President for the current year. Iam afraid that a Society insti- 
tuted for the advancement of Art, Science, and Literature, has not shown itself artful by 
such choice. Regretting, both for your sakes and my own, that I possess no scientific 
attainments, have no literary tastes, and am devoted to no art, I can only promise that 
by industry and attention to the objects of the Museum and Institute I will endeavour 
to remedy these serious deficiencies. The means laid down by the rules of our Socie 
for the attainment of its ends, are a Museum, a Library, Lectures, and Meetings of 
Members. I look upon the first in order of these as the most important, because the 
most direct ; the impression on the brain is more positive, more accurate, more indelible 
when conveyed by ocular inspection of a substance itsclf than by perusal of a written 
description of it, or than by listening to a lecture upon it; besides the visual conception 
is the speediest mode of acquiring comprehension,—take, as an example, a specimen of a 
stuffed bird, you look at it, and in an instant you acquire a knowledge of the size, 
colours, and partly of the habits of the living bird,—turn to a book on ornithology, you 
find the height, a description of the colours, wings, tails, claws, and other particulars, 
which you must put together for yourself, and then trust your imagination for the 
appearance of the bird, unless there is a plate to help you; and even should there be 
one, only compare the picture with the reality, and you will be struck with the advantage 
possessed by the actuality over the best possible resemblance. So, too, more especially 
of minerals, a look, a handling, and how much more you feel to know about them, than 
by a geological exegesis; not that I am despising this latter, but only extolling the 
former modes. Look at machinery; how long would it take most of us to comprehend 
the working, say, of a locomotive engine by studying a mere written account, or listening 
toa descriptive discourse, even from the most accomplished of engineers! True, accom- 
anying drawings may assist you, and render that intelligible which otherwise would be 
altogether beyond your powers, but how much more facile it appears when, examining for 
yourself the complicated apparatus, you trace the supply of water and coal, the genera- 
tion of steam, the manner in which its power is controlled and directed, the multitude 
of appliances by which the hi ind feces the speed and motion of his mighty 
monster, and renders it subservient to his will, and although pure science must be 
allotted to library or lectures, in vet of its branches illustrations by experimental 
apparatus are necessary to exemplify the various processes involved. 
sa 
