PMlosopldcal Institute of Canterbury . 409 



has special problems to work out, special enquiries to prosecute, which can be 

 nowhei'e prosecuted so effectually as on the spot itself. It must be clear to all 

 that we here have a new order of problems to deal with, whether in science or 

 literature, politics, or social economy. The questions arising out of them, and 

 the difficulties surrounding them, confront us under new forms, and must be 

 grappled witL by new methods. The knowledge which has been accumulated 

 in other countries is. after all, for the most part empirical in its nature. It is 

 the result of trial and experiment under certain conditions. Alter the 

 conditions or the surrounding circumstances, and the same cause would 

 produce a different effect. So it is with us. 



Here in New Zealand it is not only probable, but certain, that many of 

 those conditions under which we live are different from those which obtain 

 elsewhere, and thus those dicta, which are accepted as absolute and unquestioned 

 truths in one country and under one set of conditions, may not be so in 

 another country and under another set of conditions ; consequently, even those 

 discoveries which have been made, and that knowledge which has been acquired 

 elsewhere, require to be tested and verified here before we can accept them 

 absolutely as a basis and starting point of our investigations. In some cases 

 the differences are broad and palpable ; in others they are more subtle ; in 

 others, again, they may not as yet have been perceived at all. But this, at 

 least, is indisputable, that where the cause is different the effect will, in most 

 cases, be different also, and that therefore the laws which have been accepted 

 elsewhere as immutable may be modified or altogether neutralized here. Take, 

 as an illustration, the question as to how the earth of New Zealand acts on 

 the electric current. This question was raised in a paper read before the 

 Institute by Mr. Wright. Our conception of the laws which govern the 

 relation of the earth to electricity has been rudely disturbed by the ideas 

 therein suggested. The observations recorded by Mr. Wright would seem to 

 lead to the conclusion that the earth here, instead of dispersing, is a bad 

 conductor of electricity. He says that on the line to the north of Christchurch, 

 many of the telegraph poles having fallen down, the wires were in contact 

 with the ground, but that, notwithstanding this and contrary to his expectation, 

 insulation was still preserved, and messages could be forwarded along the line 

 from Christchurch to Wellington. So far as is known, the author says — and 

 he supports this assertion by the testimony of persons versed in practical 

 telegraphy — this would have been impossible in any other part of the world. 

 It is true his conclusions are disputed by Mr. Duigan, in a paper read before 

 the Philosophical Society at Wellington. I do not myself venture to express 

 an opinion on the question. I will only say that to my mind Mr. Duigan's 

 paper does not satisfactorily account for all the phenomena recorded by 

 Mr. Wright. I am content to leave the question undecided. It is sufficient 



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