12 New Zealand Institute. 
home; a land blessed with the most genial climate, where he has but to 
battle with and subdue the wilderness to reap the never-failing fruits of his 
labours.* 
Next to Geology, botanical research will command the attention of the 
Institute. Here we have an admirable model for our guidance in Dr. 
Hooker’s “ Handbook of the New Zealand Flora,” a work which proves how 
much cordial co-operation furthers the advancement of science. The author 
was enabled, through his genial spirit and personal influence, to secure the 
zealous assistance of numerous independent observers labouring in harmony 
with his own efforts, and thus to produce a book which, if we look to the 
sparse population and the inaccessible nature of a large portion of these 
islands, is regarded by all competent judges to be almost marvellously com- 
plete. Still, much remains to be done by the help of botanical research, 
especially in comparing the various kinds of timber supplied by our forests, 
and in ascertaining the qualities of the fibre-bearing plants of our valleys, 
for which there is a large and growing demand on the part of British manu- 
facture. Again, our attention may be profitably directed to facilitating the 
introduction and cultivation of the valuable and ornamental fruit trees, 
plants, grasses, and flowers of other countries. The indigenous vegetation 
is fast disappearing before the progress of settlement, and it is alike the 
interest and the duty to their successors of the present generation to replace 
it by anew and remunerative growth. And here it is to be observed that 
the establishment of a botanical garden in connection with the Institute 
would much facilitate its operations. 
In respect to Zoology, though New Zealand is generally deficient in 
animal life, there are many interesting fields open to the observer, especially 
with regard to the marine fauna of our coasts. Several of our shells and 
fishes present singular anomalies, and represent forms of life found in other 
parts of the world only in a fossil state. The progress of acclimatization, 
already so successful, will gradually replenish this portion of the earth with 
every domestic animal and bird profitable and useful to man. It will stock 
our woods with game and our rivers with fish; while it will bring the 
feathered songsters of our mother country to delight the ears of our 
children with their sprightly melody. 
Let us consider, moreover, the interest which was excited throughout the 
civilized world by the discovery in New Zealand of the remains of a gigantic 
race of wingless birds, which appear to have become extinct only in modern 
times. It is the opinion of the highest authorities on this subject that at no 
distant period it will be impossible to procure a collection of many species 
“New Zealand,” by Dr. F. von Hochstetter, Chap. II. 
