Otago Institute. 479 
the Saxon King, Edmund the Elder. Another barrister, Benjamin Rotch, 
was the inventor of the patent fid, now universally used in ships for securing 
topmasts ; and to descend to smaller things, but still with a scientific 
element, another barrister, whose name I forget, was the inventor of a machine 
for making coffee—scientific in its principle, simple in its contrivance. The 
safety-valve of the steam-engine, or rather the mode of rendering it self-acting, 
is said to have been invented by an idle boy to save his own labour. 
The great astronomer, Sir. W. Herschel, was by profession an organist. 
Music was the business of his life, astronomy his recreation, until in process 
of time they changed places. Grove, the author of one of the most profound 
and able works of modern science—an ‘‘ Essay on the Correlation of Forces,” 
a work which ranks side by side with the scientific writings of Tyndall and 
Huxley—was a practising barrister, then a Queen’s Counsel, and is now one 
of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster. It will be 
obvious therefore that not one of the ordinary pursuits of active life is 
inconsistent with the prosecution of science. All such active pursuits afford 
some hours of leisure. There is a conventional “day’s work” in all occupa- 
tions, and when the mind once becomes habituated to healthy activity, inaction 
becomes unendurable and we naturally crave some new occupation for our 
hours of Jeisure. To all such craving spirits this Society offers comfort and 
help, co-operation and encouragement. 
Mr. J. S. Webb said that the President’s address was remarkably appro- 
priate, in having brought into notice some things which it was necessary that 
` some one with authority should mention. He knew that there were many 
gentlemen among them competent to take part in those meetings, who had all 
along kept back too much. This was owing, he thought, in the first place to 
the fact that they fancied something great was expected from them, forgetting 
that they appreciated any honest effort to impart knowledge and increase 
the common stock when they themselves were the recipients, and failing to 
deduce from that fact that their own efforts would be received with thank- 
fulness, and that the smallest effort would have its value. In the second place, 
they forgot that the object of the Society should be to diffuse knowledge as 
well as to seek after the production of original matter. There were a great 
many whom he knew, both present and absent, who could put together the 
knowledge they possessed, and impart it in a manner which would be very 
pleasing to the members, atid which they would be very thankful for. He 
himself proposed at their next meeting to set a good example by endeavouring 
not to impart anything original, but to gather together information, not to 
be found in text books, etc., respecting the recent progress of some branches 
of science. He hoped to find the experiment successful in drawing from 
his fellow members similar efforts. 
