410 



record. Whence came tliey ? and when came they to these islands ? are questions wholly 

 undetermined, and we in this province have, I believe, alone the data for determining 

 them. 



To do so satisfactorily will require a large collection of facts. Their true history, so 

 far as it can be ascertained ; their mythical history, which is abundant if collected, as to 

 some extent it has been in the records of the Native Lands Court ; their traditions and 

 poetry, which have been partially recorded by Sir George Grey and others ; the construc- 

 tion of their skulls ; the peculiarities of their language, which we may gain from Bishop 

 Williams, Archdeacon Maunsell, Mr. Colenso, Mr. Davis, and others ; the records of 

 their existence and works, exhibited in their enormous pipi beds, and in their hangis all 

 over the country ; their terraces on Mount Eden, and the other volcanic hills of this 

 isthmus ; their stone axes ; the shape and carving of their ornaments, their weapons and 

 canoes ; all these would tend to throw light on the history of the race ; but more 

 especially if any authentic account could yet be obtained of their ancient religion and 

 rites, it would be most valuable, and worthy of preservation. In this branch of enquiry, 

 we, — in this province — have advantages nowhere else possessed, and to us will belong the 

 disgrace of allowing the records of the native race to perish, if we fail to record them. I 

 ask you, therefore, gentlemen, to devote some part of your attention to this branch, and 

 to put on record every fact, every tale, every tradition, that you may happen to become 

 acquainted with. 



There are various other branches of scientific enquiry to which I might direct atten- 

 tion, — biology, the science of animal life ; psychology, the science of mind ; and many 

 others. But I fear I have already detained you too long with these discursive remarks 

 of mine. They will, I trust, be received as I have intended them — as aids or guides to 

 thought ; as germs, which, finding a resting place in some minds, one here, another there, 

 may produce fruit in the shape of contributions to our proceedings. And pardon me, 

 gentlemen, for reminding you that over and beyond the mere natural pleasure which is 

 to be obtained by the observation and contemplation of the wondrous records of nature, 

 and over and beyond the practical utilitarian advantages to be derived from the study, 

 there is the higher pleasure, the nobler advantage, of thereby bringing ourselves into 

 nearer communication with the great Creator of all. They are His works, His hand- 

 writing, to be read and studied by all men, and though they, like His written word, may 

 be misunderstood, or misrepresented, yet we believe that He will grant to the humble, 

 earnest student, a knowledge of the truth. 



The fallacy is now well-nigh exploded that' the study of physical science tends to 

 make men materialists, and to lead them to conclusions antagonistic to the teachings of 

 revelation. This fallacy or prejudice has arisen in great part from the foolish idolatry 

 with which we have long looked on the Bible as being the Word of God, instead of accepting 

 it as what it professes to be, only a Word of God. As a recent writer well puts it, there 

 in one only who is the Word. The records of nature are as truly His word as His written 

 revelation, and are His own lingers' writing, not passed through the filter of human 

 language, uncorrupted by age or translations, and are not 'more liable to be misunderstood 

 or misinterpreted than what we have been accustomed to call the Word. Both being His 

 words, they are complementary of each other ; their teachings cannot be antagonistic ; 

 they will throw mutual light on each other. The humble student of nature will as surely 

 be led up to a knowledge of, and communion with the great Father of all, as will the 

 student of theology. 



That we may be enabled to cidtivate humility in our pursuit of knowledge is, I feel 

 sure, your desire, as it is mine, that we may increase the numbers of our seekers after 

 knowledge ; that we may be able to contribute to the increase of knowledge is the object 

 of our Society. A truly noble object it is, and we may well say with the poet — 



' ' Knowledge is of things we see ; 

 And yet we trust it comes from Thee : 

 A beam in darkness let it grow : 



Let knowledge grow from more to more, 

 But more of reverence in us dwell : 

 That mind and soul, according well, 



May make one music as before, 



But vaster." 



Gentlemen, I have much pleasure in now declaring the second session of the Institute 

 open for transaction of business. 



Papers read : — 



(1.) "On the Puka (Meryta Sinclairii)," by T. Kirk. (See ante, p. 100.) The 

 author exhibited specimens obtained from the Taranga Island, where he had recently 

 discovered it. 



Captain Hutton remarked that he had accompanied Mr. Kirk on his expedition to 

 the Hen and Chickens in search of these plants, and they had found eight on one of the 



