40 



time new recruits will be enlisted, until ere long the Society will muster 

 a goodly force of earnest men, each in his own place and according to 

 his gifts and opportunities working for the common good. 



The two volumes of "Transactions" already issued contain much 

 interesting matter on many subjects, and some of the articles possess 

 considerable scientific value. The fii'st volume included a few essays 

 which had been previously jDrinted, but the second belongs entirely to 

 the Institute. Of the 62 articles and 10 lectures now first printed, 22 

 were read at our meetings, and of the 32 contributors to the second 

 volume, eight belong to Auckland. We may well regard the " Transac- 

 tions " as an encouraging proof of the force of co-operation, as well as a 

 testimony to the care and diligence of the editor, to whose zeal and 

 ability the colony is largely indebted. 



Turning again to our own Institute, we have another cause for 

 congratulation that we are now located on our own property. This 

 valuable site has been granted to the Auckland Institute by the 

 Government, and the museum, which is in our custody, is now contained 

 in these buildings until we shall be enabled to build ourselves a suitable 

 home. In order to cai'ry out the objects for which we have associated 

 ourselves, we shall require the outlay of a considerable sum of money. 

 Our plan for future buildings should include not only a museum, but 

 also suitable rooms for a free j)viblic library and a laboratory ; also, a 

 spacious lecture-hall, with class-rooms, and accommodation for meetings 

 of the Council, as well as a dwelling-house for the curator and librarian. 

 I look upon the establishment of a free public library in connection with 

 the Institute, as one of the first and most important duties that can 

 engage our attention, and earnestly hope that a successful effort will, be 

 made to obtain so great a boon for the community. 



It appears to me that it would also be desirable to avail ourselves of 

 the opportunity afforded by the preparations now in progress for observing 

 the approaching transit of Venus, to ask the assistance of the proper 

 authorities in England in the establishment of an observatory in this 

 neighbourhood. If the necessary buildings could be prepared on a 

 su-itable site, and in accordance with the plans of the English astronomers, 

 it might not be too much to hope that the valuable instruments which 

 will necessarily be brought out from home would be left for use in the 

 colony. Our freedom from earthquakes, and, as a general rule, from 

 fogs, would be a recommendation in favour of the choice of this place as 

 one of the stations for the intended expedition. It would be well, 

 therefore, to bring the subject before the Provincial Government, in 



