Otago Institute. 479 



the Saxon King, Edmund the Elder. Another barrister, Benjamin E-otch, 

 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 leisure. 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 diff'use 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, and 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. 



