PHILOSOPHICAL INSTITUTE OF CANTERBUKY. 



First Meeting. Ath March, 1880. 



Professor J. von Haast, Vice-President, in the chair. 



Neiv Meynber. — Dr. Guthrie. 

 No papers were read. 



Second Meeting (additional) IQth March, 1880. 

 E. Dobson, President, in the chair. 

 ISlew Members. — Professor F. W. Hutton, J. Hay. 



ADDRESS. 



The President read his opening address " On the Progress of AppHed 

 Science in Canterhury." 



abstract. 



He reviewed the development of public works in the Provincial District of Canter- 

 bury, and with reference to railways discussed the merits of the broad and narrow gauges, 

 expressing himself strongly in favor of the former. He reviewed the methods adopted 

 for ordinary road making, surveys, the proposal for the irrigation of the Canterbury 

 Plains and the conservation of the rivers, the water supply, and the drainage of the 

 towns, street tramways, gas lighting, harbour works, and the adaptation of improved 

 agricultural machinery ; and, in his concluding remarks, he pointed out that the success- 

 ful colonization of New Zealand has been in a great measure due to the scientific element 

 which has pervaded the councils of its rulers. He considered it important that this 

 influence should be recognised, so that in the development of our educational institutions 

 scientific training may receive its fuU share of attention instead of being simply tolerated 

 or altogether set aside in favour of the study of dead languages. The study of Greek and 

 Latin, however valuable as a system of mental training, as affording models for the 

 expression of thought, and as a foundation for a thorough knowledge of the languages of 

 western Europe, has no further result as a preparation for the active duties of life in that 

 world into which man has been sent " to eat his bread in the sweat of his brow," nor can 

 it for a moment be seriously contended that the study of the hcentious obscenities of 

 the Eoman poets can have other than a degrading influence on the minds of our youths 

 entering upon manhood. 



The excellence of the literature of the Greeks and Eomans was the natural reflection 

 of their national greatness. Their orators did not rise to fame through writing nonsense 

 verses, nor did their authors perfect their style by translating unmeaning common-places 

 into the disused languages of fallen nations. They spoke and wrote out of the fullness of 

 their hearts of the stirring events passing before their eyes and of the national life in 



