460 Proceedings. 



Trustees of the Cantei'bury Mnseiim 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, wJiich 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 diffei'ent species of Dinornis. It has been the endeavour of the 

 trustees to obtain type collections from the various centres of learning in the 

 ISTorthern 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 interest 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 ^ew 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. 



