10 New Zealand Institute. 
Maoris of my journeys through the recently hostile and disaffected districts ; 
and also respecting the progress of the roads which—carried out, in great 
measure, by native labour—are gradually, but surely, opening up to peace 
and to civilization the mountains and forests of the interior. Our learned 
associate, Mr. Travers, has truly remarked, in one of his contributions to the 
last volume of our Zransactions, that the public works undertaken by the 
Colonial Parliament will “afford invaluable opportunities of pushing on 
inquiries in various branches of the Natural History of New Zealand, in 
a manner, and with a rapidity, which we could otherwise scarcely have hoped 
for. The construction of lines of road and railway through tracts of country 
hitherto comparatively unknown, will give to the geologist and botanist, to 
the miner and agriculturist, and indeed to all who are engaged, either 
theoretically or practically, in inquiring into or in developing the resources 
of the Colony, the greatest facilities for carrying out their objects ; and we 
may look forward, in this aspect of the matter, to results of the highest 
importance.” : 
In conclusion, gentlemen, I beg to thank you for the indulgence with 
which on this, as on four previous occasions of a like character, you have 
listened to a somewhat desultory address. I assure you, in all sincerity, 
that among the many delightful recollections of New Zealand which I shall 
cherish during the remainder of my life, not the least satisfactory will be the 
remembrance of my connection, as the first President, with this Institute and 
its members, 
