﻿360 Proceedings. 



this country ; and seeing tlie enormous waste which must result from the 

 employment of crude methods of extraction, we cannot too highly appreciate 

 the discovery of any economical means of avoiding or mitigating the national 

 loss which must ensue from such waste. But it is not alone in regard to the 

 development of this source af our wealth that the labours of Mr. Skey have 

 proved valuable to the colony, nor do the papers which have appeared in the 

 Transactions afford the least idea of the extent of those labours. In order to 

 understand these points it is necessary to refer to the Laboi'atory records, and 

 those who have not yet done so will then not only be gratified and surprised, 

 but will be able to appreciate the advantages which the colony at large derives 

 from this branch of our scientific institutions. The only paper not contributed 

 in this department by Mr. Skey is one from Mr. Hughes, of Hokitika, con- 

 taining a detailed and valuable account of some of the properties of the tutu 

 poison. The careful manner in which the subject appears to have been inves- 

 tigated by Mr. Hughes induces me to express a hope that we shall see, in 

 future volumes of the Transactions, further recorded results of the chemical 

 labours of that gentleman. 



In Geology the principal contributions are from Captain Hutton and the 

 late Mr. E. H. Davis, whose melancholy death by drowning, whilst in the per- 

 formance of his duties, has deprived this colony of a talented and zealous 

 worker in the field of science. These papers give part of the general results 

 of the investigations of the Geological Department of the colony during the 

 past year, and contain matters of considerable interest in connection with the 

 material resources of the colony. It is quite needless for me, in addi-essing 

 this Society, to call attention to the extreme value of geological investigations 

 in a country so peculiarly circumstanced as ISTew Zealand — one in which, as 

 must be apparent even to the casual observer, mineral wealth must always 

 play a conspicuous part. It is, therefore, of the highest importance that we 

 should possess a staff" of officers in connection with this department of science 

 who are able and willing to direct its investigations to purposes of permanent 

 and practical utility, and whose aim will rather be diligently and honestly to 

 collect and record facts from which sound deductions may be drawn than to 

 indulge in theoretical speculations, which, however interesting as subjects for 

 debate, can add little, if anything, to our stock of useful practical knowledge. 

 It is fortunate for the colony that the labours of this department are under 

 the direction of a gentleman so well qualified for the duties it involves as 

 Dr. Hector, and it is satisfactory to know that his services, and the character 

 of the work he is carrying out, are receiving their due recognition,, both at the 

 hands of his own immediate employers, and at those of leading scientific men 

 at home. I may be permitted to observe, without infringing the wholesome 

 rule which prohibits the introduction of political subjects into our discussions, 



