Inaugwal Address. 13 



even of the common birds now found in this country. Before long, these 

 too will have disappeared with the Moa. But local observers and collectors 

 still have it in their power to place on record accurate information respecting 

 their numbers, habits, and distribution. 



"With regard to the Physical Sciences, the study of Meteorology will 

 prove of much practical benefit in these tempestuous latitudes ; for the dis- 

 coveries of Sir "W. Eeid and his followers have enabled science to encircle 

 with definite laws the apparently capricious phenomena of the atmosphere, 

 and to set at defiance the terrors of the storm. Already, weather indications 

 are obtained throughout this colony, and are published for general use on a 

 uniform system. Moreover, the importance of New Zealand as a station for 

 magnetical observations is everywhere recognized. It will be our duty, as 

 members of the Institute, to contribute to the general stock of knowledge, 

 not only of terrestrial magnetism, but also of geodesy, or the exact measure- 

 ment of the form of these islands, upon which many problems of high 

 interest depend. 



The irregularities of the seasons, the oscillations of the level of the 

 coast line, the connection between the variations of magnetic currents and 

 volcanic force, as manifested by earthquakes, all these and many other 

 kindred subjects are of great scientific and practical interest at the present 

 day, while our transactions respecting them will afford valuable materials for 

 future philosophers and historians. 



I have now glanced, in these imperfect remarks, at the practical advan- 

 tages of the study of Greology, Botany, Zoology, and of the Physical 

 Sciences. I firmly believe that the New Zealand Institute contains within 

 itself a sure principle of vitality, because it contains a sure principle of 

 usefulness. 



And now, gentlemen, we must not forget that the halls in which we are 

 assembled contain numerous and valuable illustrations, not only of the 

 natural history and geology of this country, but also of the manners and 

 customs of its aboriginal inhabitants. It will be one of the main objects of 

 this Institute to collect all records that can help to throw light on that very 

 complicated and difiicult but highly interesting subject, the past and present 

 condition and future prospects of the Maori race. My predecessor, Sir 

 Greorge Grrey, has done much for the preservation of the poetry and 

 traditions of the Maoris, and I know that I shall gratify you by quoting 

 the eloquent words with which, in his inaugural address, he called the atten- 

 tion of the New Zealand Society to this part of its duties. Pie said, — 



" "We who stand in this country occupy an historical position of extra- 

 ordinary interest. Before us lies a future already brilliant with the light of 

 a glorious morn, which we are to usher in to gladden unborn generations. 



