AucTclcmd Institute. 457 



Por myself, it would be mucli more agreeable to me to occupy a position of 

 less prominence than tbat in wbicb it has pleased tbe members of tbis 

 Institute to place me, for I cannot but feel tbat mucb more Avill reasonably 

 be expected from tbe President tban I can hope to fulfil. I sbould, therefore, 

 bave declined tbe proffered honour, but, \Yell knowing tbe difficulties tbat 

 promoters of sucb an institution bave to encounter in its establishment, and 

 unwilling to refuse assistance in any capacity in wbicb my colleagues con- 

 sidered tbat I could be serviceable, I, adversely to my own opinions and 

 wishes, reluctantly consented to become tbe first President. I can only 

 promise that I will endeavour to compensate in zeal for what I may lack in 

 attainments and ability. 



The JSTew Zealand Legislature, in its last session, passed a statute for the 

 establishment of an " Institute for the Advancement of Science and Art in 

 l^ew Zealand," and conferred on it, together with tbe societies to be incor- 

 porated with it, the privileges of a body corporate. The Act, in tbe first 

 place, provides for the appointment of a " fit and proper person to super- 

 intend and carry out the geological survey of the colony, and also to 

 superintend the formation, establishment, and management of a public 

 museum and laboratory." This refers to the parent society (if I may so 

 call it), domiciled at "Wellington; but the services of this gentleman (the 

 Act does not give bim an official name) are also to be available " to super- 

 intend the formation and establishment of any museum and laboratory 

 intended to be established by any society incorporated with the parent 

 institution." 



Por tbe management of this Institute there is a Board of Governors, in 

 tbe first instance nominated, but afterwards partly to be nominated and 

 partly to be elected. Their powers are defined, provision made for their 

 meetings, and for the enactment of rules, by tbe Grovernor in Council, for 

 the management and regulation of the Institute. Such is the general 

 character of tbe provisions of the New Zealand Institute Act. Hoav far it 

 will satisfactorily answer the purposes for which it is intended remains yet 

 to be seen. Experience is necessary to settle tbat question ; but I must say 

 that I very mucb fear that some of the provisions will be found cumbersome, 

 and difficult to work satisfactorily. We cannot but be struck with the 

 similarity of the scheme for the government of science to tbat for the 

 political government of the colony. Tbe General and Provincial Govern- 

 ments appear to have afforded models for, and to be reprodiiced in, the New 

 Zealand Institute and those institutions, when established in tbe provinces, 

 to be incorporated with it. The Auckland Institute has been successfully 

 formed, and now numbers nearly eighty members. It has not yet been 

 associated with tbe New Zealand Institute. It is competent for us now to 

 58 



