12 New Zealand Institute. 



home ; a land blessed with the most genial climate, where he has hut to 

 battle with and subdue the wilderness to reap the never-failing fruits of his 

 labours.* 



Next to Geology, botanical research will command the attention of the 

 Institute. Here we have an admirable model for our guidance in Dr. 

 Hooker's " Handbook of the New Zealand Flora," a work which proves how 

 much cordial co-operation furthers the advancement of science. The author 

 was enabled, through his genial spirit and personal influence, to secure the 

 zealous assistance of numerous independent observers labouring in harmony 

 with his own efforts, and thus to produce a book which, if we look to the 

 sparse population and the inaccessible nature of a large portion of these 

 islands, is regarded by all competent judges to be almost marvellously com- 

 plete. Still, much remains to be done by the help of botanical research, 

 especially in comparing the various kinds of timber supplied by our forests, 

 and in ascertaining the qualities of the fibre-bearing plants of our valleys, 

 for which there is a large and growing demand on the part of British manu- 

 facture. Again, our attention may be profitably directed to facilitating the 

 introduction and cultivation of the valuable and ornamental fruit trees, 

 plants, grasses, and flowers of other countries. The indigenous vegetation 

 is fast disappearing before the progress of settlement, and it is alike the 

 interest and the duty to their successors of the present generation to replace 

 it by a new and remunerative growth. And here it is to be observed that 

 the establishment of a botanical garden in connection with the Institute 

 would much facilitate its operations. 



In respect to Zoology, though ISTew Zealand is generally deficient in 

 animal life, there are many interesting fields open to the observer, especially 

 with regard to the marine fauna of our coasts. Several of our shells and 

 fishes present singular anomalies, and represent forms of life found in other 

 parts of the world only in a fossil state. The progress of acclimatization, 

 already so successful, will gradually replenish this portion of the earth with 

 every domestic animal and bird profitable and useful to man. It will stock 

 our woods with game and our rivers with fish ; while it will bring the 

 feathered songsters of our mother country to delight the ears of our 

 children with their sprightly melody. 



Let us consider, moreover, the interest Avhich was excited throughout the 

 civilized world by the discovery in New Zealand of the remains of a gigantic 

 race of wingless birds, which appear to have become extinct only in modern 

 times. It is the opinion of the highest authorities on this subject that at no 

 distant period it will be impossible to procure a collection of many species 



"New Zealand," by Dr. F. von Hochstetter, Chap. II, 



