460 Proceedings. 
Trustees of the Canterbury Museum and Library” for establishing a public 
library and a school of technical science, and for the safe custody of the books 
and other valuable property deposited in the Museum. In furtherance of the 
objects contemplated by the ordinance, a resolution was passed by the 
Provincial Council during its last session, for reserving 100,000 acres of 
pastoral land as an endowment. In addition to this valuable endowment we 
have to acknowledge the liberal gift of one of our members, Mr. Gould, who 
has ordered casts of statues of the old masters, which will not only be a 
source of much enjoyment, but will be most useful in furnishing models for a 
School of Design. Great advantages are already experienced from the enlarged 
space afforded by the new building for the contents of the Museum. The 
various objects of interest have been arranged and classified by the director, 
Dr. Haast, with great care, and with a view to their being used for advancing 
the cause of science. The collection is now a very considerable one, and 
contains many valuable specimens, including the complete skeletons repre- 
senting seven different species of Dinornis. It has been the endeavour of the | 
trustees to obtain type collections from the various centres of learning in the 
Northern Hemisphere, as these are exceedingly valuable for the purposes of 
teaching and study. Through the zealous exertions of Dr. Haast, the trustees 
have succeeded in obtaining such collections representing all orders and classes 
of Zoology. A microscope has been ordered, and also an aquarium, and a 
laboratory will soon become necessary. The number of visitors of all classes 
proves abundantly the jnterest felt by the public in the collection, which could 
not before be exhibited for want of space. 
The enlargement of the building which the trustees are making through 
the liberality of the Provincial Council will afford rooms for the reception of 
the additions to the collections which are being received continually, and also 
for lectures on scientific and technical subjects, which we may hope will 
become general now that the New Zealand and Otago Universities have been 
established. The experiment is already being tried here by a course of 
lectures on Natural History delivered weekly at the High School by one of 
our members. The unflagging interest exhibited by the pupils, as well as by 
several other persons who are permitted to attend, proves that lectures on 
scientific subjects will be thoroughly appreciated. The great advantages that 
would result to the youth of the community from scientific and practical 
training have been truly and clearly stated by his Excellency Sir George 
Bowen, the President of the New Zealand Institute, and by the presidents of 
several of the affiliated societies; it is therefore unnecessary for me to dwell 
upon them. 
Gentlemen, I congratulate you heartily on the proceedings which have 
lately been taken for the establishment of an observatory in this province. 
