Otcujo Institute. 471 



and capable of being communicated by each and all of the members. It also 

 furnishes the wholesome stimulus of emulation and friendly competition. It 

 has another advantage, apart from science — its primary object. It has a 

 social usefulness. It brings together, in friendly social intercourse, men who 

 from their private engagements and pursidts, or remoteness from each other, 

 might never otherwise have an opportunity of meeting. The New Zealand 

 Institute performs for the several societies united with it, that which each 

 society does for its own members. It makes common property of the contri- 

 butions of all. Whatever is useful in the deliberations and proceedings of 

 one is thrown into the common stock, with a salutary power of rejection and 

 selection. The four volumes of Transactions bear witness to this. No one 

 society, howsoever able its members, or howsoever liberally supported, could 

 have produced such a valuable body of scientific information as we find in the 

 volumes to which I have alluded. Nor could all the societies, working 

 independently, have done so. The mere pecuniary economy of the present 

 arrangement is a source of efficiency which no amount of isolated energy could 

 attain. All share in the liberality of the Legislature. The power of selection, 

 too, to which T have alluded, which involves rejection, has imparted to the 

 Transactions a character which has called forth commendation from the 

 scientific bodies of other countries. 



A few words upon the history of these institutions will, I trust, be deemed 

 not out of place. The first attempt to establish a scientific body in New 

 Zealand was the New Zealand Society in 1851. Its chief promoter was Sir 

 George Grey. It had about seventy members, and I had the honour of being 

 one of its vice-presidents. Among the members were several gentlemen of 

 scientific attainments, and others not unversed in literature. I may mention 

 the names of the late Mr. Swainson, the well-known naturalist ; Mr. Walter 

 Mantell, a geologist by descent ; Dr. Sinclair, an accomplished botanist ] Dr. 

 Kalph, a skilful microscopist ; and there were others. At that time, however, 

 the whole colony contained only about 32,000 Europeans — scattered over the 

 whole length and breadth of the two islands ; and it cannot be matter for 

 surprise that the society, though well intentioned, languished ; and, I believe, 

 after a few years died what must be deemed a natural death. But let us be 

 grateful to it, as the precursor and germ, and perhaps even the suggester of 

 the existing well-established Institute. 



The New Zealand Institute owes its existence to the "New Zealand 

 Institute Act, 1867." The geological survey of the country is very wisely 

 one of the principal objects connected with the Institute, and the Governor is 

 empowered to appoint a manager of such survey, and also assistants. Branch 

 societies may be incorporated with the Institute, and when so incorporated 

 each Society elects a member to vote for the elected governors. Practically 



