406 Proceedings. 
assisted in this preliminary investigation, became Provincial Geologist of 
Nelson, and afterwards of Canterbury. Mr. Crawford was appointed to 
Wellington at the instance of Sir Roderick Murchison; and Dr. Hector, . 
who was specially retained in England, came out as Provincial Geologist of 
Otago. Then commenced a period of scientific activity, which found @ 
tangible expression in the New Zealand Exhibition at Dunedin, m 1865, 
and culminated in the New Zealand Institute, with Dr. Hector as Manager and 
Director—an organisation which may now be regarded as one of the settled 
institutions of the country, and of which our Society has been for a period — 
of seven years an affiliated body. Not only has the Institute been a rally- 
ing point, so to speak, for the young scientific societies in various parts of — 
the Colony; but it has also, through its official branch, the Geological — 
Survey, done much valuable work in every department of naturaland physical 
science. The volumes of geological reports issued year by year, all of them a 
replete with original research; Dr. Hector’s valuable treatise on «Whales — 
and Dolphins ;” the excellent synopsis of the “‘ Fishes of New Zealand,” 
compiled by Captain Hutton ; the Critical Lists of Mollusca by Dr. E. von a 
Martens, of Berlin (prepared at the expense of the Institute) ; and much 
other work of a similar kind, bear testimony to the ability and activity of 3 7 
this department; and it is not too much to say that the growth and pro- 4 
| 
gress of the Institute is due in a very large measure to the individual zeal 
and energy of Dr. Hector. 
From year to year the scientific work of the New Zealand Institute has 3 
kept pace with the rapid progress of the Colony, and the seventh volume Q 
of the “Transactions” is in every way worthy of its predecessors, — 
both as to bulk and quality. On a cursory perusal, it is evident that our — 
Society has done its fair share of work during the year, no less than twenty- — 
four of the papers selected by the Governors as worthy of publication having — 
emanated from our members. 
As most of you are aware, our Vice-President, Mr. Travers, is one of 
the most industrious of our working members, and ‘the present volume — 
contains a lengthy contribution from him, entitled «Notes on Dr. Haa "B 
supposed pleistocene glaciation of New Zealand.” The author dissents Es 
entirely from the learned Doctor’s views, as propounded in his report to the 
Provincial Government of Canterbury in 1864, and since repeated ; and : | 
following up his former article on “The extinct glaciers of the South — 
Island,” he has now placed before us an able exposition of his own views | 
on this subject. It is not within my province, as President, to express BY 
— on the questions at issue, even were I competent to do s0; but, 
whos pledging myself to some of the views advanced, I can recommend 
the article to the careful study of all those who take an interest in the past 
___ physical history of « the land we live in.” a 
