+ 
Inaugural Address. 13 
even of the common birds now found in this country. Before long, these 
too will have disappeared with the Moa. But local observers and collectors 
still have it in their power to place on record accurate information respecting 
their numbers, habits, and distribution. 
With regard to the Physical Sciences, the study of Meteorology will 
prove of much practical benefit in these tempestuous latitudes ; for the dis- 
eoveries of Sir W. Reid and his followers have enabled science to encircle 
with definite laws the apparently capricious phenomena of the atmosphere, 
and to set at defiance the terrors of the storm. Already, weather indications 
are obtained throughout this colony, and are published for general use on a 
uniform system. Moreover, the importance of New Zealand as a station for 
magnetical observations is everywhere recognized. It will be our duty, as 
members of the Institute, to contribute to the general stock of knowledge, 
not only of terrestrial magnetism, but also of geodesy, or the exaet measure- 
ment of the form of these islands, upon which many problems of high 
interest depend. 
The irregularities of the seasons, the oscillations of the level of the 
coast line, the connection between the variations of magnetic currents and 
voleanie force, as manifested by earthquakes, all these and many other 
kindred subjects are of great scientifie and practical interest at the present 
day, while our transactions respecting them will afford valuable materials for 
future philosophers and historians. 
I have now glanced, in these imperfect remarks, at the practical advan- 
tages of the study of Geology, Botany, Zoology, and of the Physieal 
Sciences. I firmly believe that the New Zealand Institute contains within 
itself a sure principle of vitality, because it contains a sure principle of 
usefulness. 
And now, gentlemen, we must not forget that the halls in which we are 
assembled contain numerous and valuable illustrations, not only of the 
natural history and geology of this country, but also of the manners and 
customs of its aboriginal inhabitants. It will be one of the main objects of 
this Institute to collect all records that can help to throw light on that very 
complicated and difficult but highly interesting subject, the past and present 
condition and future prospects of the Maori race. My predecessor, Sir 
George Grey, has done much for the preservation of the poetry and 
traditions of the Maoris, and I know that I shall gratify you by quoting 
the eloquent words with which, in his inaugural address, he called the atten- 
tion of the New Zealand Society to this part of its duties. He said,— 
* We who stand in this country occupy an historical position of extra- 
ordinary interest. Before us lies a future already brilliant with the light of 
a glorious morn, which we are to usher in to gladden unborn generations. 
