Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. 411 



local and general, tlie pavticulai' and universal — are constantly on the increase. 

 Materials for these investigations are rapidly accumulating in our Museum. I 

 regret that the valuable report lately presented by the trustees of that 

 institution has not yet appeared in print. It would be seen fi-om it that not 

 only have we obtained valuable contributions from abroad, but that local 

 efforts have not been wanting, by collectors in various parts of the Province, 

 to furnish local specimens to the general store. This lutter class of contiibutions 

 has, to ray mind, a special value over and above* the value which the specimens 

 may have in a scientific point of view. Not only do they serve to illustrate 

 the natural history of this country, they also give evidence of a general feeling 

 of interest among the public at lai-ge in the advancement of science. 



In looking over the list of contributors I was much struck with the large 

 number of children and young people who have sent contributions. Nothing 

 can be more gratifying and more encoux-aging for the future of science here 

 than tliis fact, because it shows that there are many who, at an early age, are 

 beginning to acquire those habits of thought and observation which are the 

 indispensable conditions of usefulness and distinction at a riper age. I hope 

 that this single fact affords evidence that, if we cannot as yet boast of any 

 great things achieved in the cause of science, we are at least laying a good 

 foundation by first enlisting sympathy and co-operation. "We shall, indeed, be 

 rendering important services to science if we do nothing more than foster and 

 encourage a spirit of enquiry and observation and love of study. This, I 

 think, should be the special object of a society such as ours. It is the faculty 

 which it possesses of promoting that object which, to my mind, gives to this 

 society its distinctive value, and it is as engaged in this work that we can 

 faii-ly, as a body, claim the title of a leai-ned society. Learning and science 

 must, it appears to me, in order to be effectually promoted, be placed upon a 

 much broader basis than that which they have hitherto occupied. They must 

 look for their advancement, not only to assistance from the learned, but from 

 all who can appreciate the value of learning in others. It is only by enlisting 

 the interest, the sympathy, and the co-operation of all that we can hope to 

 flourish as a learned society. It is on these grounds that I consider myself, as 

 well as those other members who do not pretend to any special attainment in 

 any branch of learning, qualified to take part in the proceedings of this 

 Philosophical Institute, all the members of which, whether leai^ned or unlearned, 

 may justly claim the title of philosophers in the original sense of the word ; 

 that is to say, lovers and admirers of wisdom and learning, though not 

 necessarily themselves learned. 



It may appear pai-adoxical, but I believe it to be strictly true, that one 

 condition of our success as a learned society is, that this Institute does 

 not consist exclusively of learned men. That sharp line of demarcation 



