440 Proceedings. 
ов Рудзі. . MeKerrow, D. Brent; Cowncil—Professor Black, W. 
Blair, C. E, A. Bathgate, R. Gillies, Professor Shand, H. Skey, P. Thomson ; 
Hon. Treasurer—J. S. Webb ; Hon. Secretary—Captain F. W. Hutton. 
1. “On the Mythology and Traditions of the Maori in New Zealand," by 
the Rev. F. H. Wohlers. ` 
First MEETING. Tth April, 1874. 
J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S., President, in the chair. 
New members.—Dr. Bakewell, —. Mouat. 
The President read the following anniversary 
ADDRESS, ; 
The first. meeting of the Institute took place on J uly 20th, 1869 ; we are 
therefore approaching the fifth year of our existence. In looking over the 
papers published by the New Zealand Institute, of which this one is an 
affiliated society, I think it will be generally acknowledged that, after we have 
subtracted those written by the official or Government staff, our share of work 
has been fairly done; not that I would have you to relax your efforts in the 
pursuit of knowledge, but that they may be redoubled. | 
On Natural History we have had papers by Messrs. J. S, Webb, A. С. Purdie, 
A. Bathgate, W. D. Murison, P. Thomson, and R. Gillies, also by 
Captain F. W. Hutton; on Mathematics, by Messrs. Brent and R. Wilding ; 
on Archeology, by Dr. Eccles ; on Botany, by Mr. J. Buchanan ; on Physics, 
by Messrs. M. Chapman and J. 8. Webb ; on Geology, by Messrs. 
J. M*Kerrow, and L. O. Beal ; on Physical Geography, by Mr. P. Thomson ; on 
Ethnography, by Mr. J. T. Thomson ; on Meteorology, by Mr. J. S. Webb; 
on Engineering, by Messrs. G. M. Barr and Villaine ; on Mechanics, by Mr. 
J. T. Thomson ; on Astronomy, by Messrs. J. S. Webb and'H. Skey. These 
papers appear in the first five volumes of the New Zealand Institute, but 
were principally given in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. 
In choosing me as the third person to hold the presidency, you were so 
good as to give a reason for this—viz, that I had done work. It is no doubt 
a gratification to me to find that the little I have done has been thus 
appreciated, and, apart from all personal considerations, I think the principle a 
fair one, to be occasionally upheld as an incentive to exertion on the part of 
other workers, members of this Institute. 
Observation is the practical and scientific basis on which our minds can ` 
work, and the more accurate and extended this be, so much the more just and ` 
comprehensive will be our views and conclusions. The country in which we 
live naturally presents the most ready and interesting field for observation. 
