SOUTHLAND INSTITUTE 



FiKST Meeting. 5th July, 1880. 



J. T. Thomson, F.E.G.S., President, in the chair. 



Neiv Members. — Henry G. Mussen, Norman Prentice, T. Brodrick, Thos. 

 Denniston, Hanan. 



The President dehvered an inaugural address. 



ABSTEACT. 



In inaugurating a Scientific Society in this most remote city of Her Majesty's 

 Dominions, it becomes me to say something of the rapid and successful progress of 

 similar Institutions in New Zealand, which will he an incitement for the members of this 

 one to persevere. 



The Wellington Philosophical Society was incorporated with the New Zealand Insti- 

 tute on the lOtli June, 1868 ; the Auckland Institute on the same day and year ; the 

 Philosophical Institute of Canterbury on the 22nd October, 1868 ; the Otago Institute on 

 18th October, 1869 ; the Nelson Association for the Promotion of Science and Industry on 

 the 23rd September, 1870; the Westland Institute on the 21st December, 1874; and the 

 Hawke's Bay Pliilosophical Institute on the 31st March, 1875. Our incorporation we 

 have taken steps to accompUsh. 



All these Societies have done good service by promoting intellectual enquiry, and by 

 the bringing of persons engaged in the same studies and observations together, who would 

 otherwise not meet ; also, by the discussion of subjects of utility, or of special and general 

 interest, — a record of the proceedings of which is to be seen in the twelve volumes of 

 " Transactions of the New Zealand Institute." 



The papers published in these volumes are of a diverse nature, but few can be con- 

 sidered out of place, and many display deep reflection, and laborious investigation; 

 altogether the establishment of such a medium of communication between local as well 

 as distant practical and scientific workers in the colony may be said, to the thoughtful 

 enquirer, to be one of the most auspicious events in the social history of our colony. 



That this city should now become a centre for meeting, and for the interchange of 

 thoughts and ideas, as well as for the illustration of applied science in the several and 

 many projects and industries, is not too early. Its ready promotion by so many respect- 

 able citizens is confirmatory of this sentiment, and we have a large field before us in the 

 extensive and fertile district to which we geographically belong. Nor need our members' 

 range of investigatton be confined to the land, our extensive sea-board, and outlying 

 islands, yet but little explored, abound with interest for the several branches of scientific 

 enquiry, and if we look beyond this, seeing that we are the nearest city to the Antarctic 

 Continent, it may yet be oui- fortune to assist in the unravelling of the mysteries of that 

 unknown land ; a glimpse of which was given us by Sir James Eoss, over thirty years ago. 



