420 Proceedings. 
have been my individual wishes, I have bowed to the flattering and 
unanimous opinion of the members of this society, and have again ascended 
the presidential chair, trusting that you will kindly overlook my shortcomings. 
Once more I beg to thank you for this proof of your confidence, and I wish a& 
the same time to assure you that, as in the past, so in the future, it will be my 
earnest endeavour to advance the interests of our society, which, I trust, will 
rise in a very few years to a conspicuous place amongst its sister institutions in 
New Zealand. Generally it is the custom of the president elect of a scientific 
body to devote his opening address either to a general survey of the scientific 
work done during the year, to allude to important discoveries in the several 
branches of science, or to select one or several special subjects, of which, by 
his own vocation, he is able to trace the advancement in years past. 
Owing to the peculiar geographical outlines with which New Zealand is 
endowed, we do not possess one intellectual centre, as is the case in most older 
countries, or even in many of the neighbouring colonies ; but the favourable 
position and high aspirations of most of the provincial capitals, aided by the fore- 
sight and wise legislation of the Provincial Councils, have secured to them 
peculiar advantages, which generally are not neglected, and will, I have no 
doubt, be greatly instrumental in securing the rapid intellectual and material 
development of this colony in every direction. Under these circumstances the 
President of this Institute, as well as those of the other societies forming part 
of the New Zealand Institute, have followed a middle course, and, by devoting 
some portion of their addresses to general observations, have not neglected to 
enter into those special topies with which, by original research, they are best 
acquainted. And whilst the New Zealand Institute has done good work in 
acting as the publishing medium of these societies, I think, in the interest of 
the colony and of members of the affiliated societies, that a further step should 
be taken to make this central institution still more useful. 
Amongst the improvements which I might venture to suggest, it would 
simplify matters very much if the Presidents of the five affiliated societies, or 
as many more as join in the future, were Governors ez officio, by which the 
Board of Governors would gain in strength, and give each society, as it were, 
a personal interest in the doings of the Central Board, always provided that 
their attendance and assistance are required, and that their office is not an 
honorary sinecure. At the same time it would be desirable to have a general 
meeting of all the Governors each year at one of the centres of population, 
giving precedence to those where affiliated societies are located. During these 
meetings, which might be arranged in the manner of those of the British 
Association for the Advancement of Science and other similar institutions on 
the Continent, the principal work of the year could be done, and thus all the 
chief towns in the colony would in their turn derive the advantages of such 
