Philosopliical Institute of Canterbury. 415 



endowment made by the Provincial Council for the purposes of a school of 

 technical science. It is, I know, from no fault of the Institxite that all these 

 subjects have been so neglected. The Institute itself does not, and cannot, 

 prescribe the nature of the questions to be brought forward. It is, no doubt, 

 difficult to say how this evil (for evil I hold it to be) is to be remedied, but I 

 think it is one to which I may not improperly refer. It is, I think, a 

 proposition which cannot be controverted, that if we contine our attention 

 exclusively to one set of subjects, if we discai'd all which lies beyond a 

 comparatively narrow horizon, we are in danger, not only of circumscribing 

 our field of action and of usefulness, but of giving a one-sided character to our 

 efforts in that narrow field itself ; and so, ultimately, instead of being entitled 

 to the comprehensive name of a philosophical body, we may sink into the 

 narrower sphere of a scientific society. 



My principal object in hazarding these remarks is to suggest to those 

 members whose intellectual pursuits have been outside the field of physical 

 science, that they also should bring some contributions in their respective 

 subjects. It would, I think, be a mistake to allow the feeling to grow, which 

 no doubt to some extent has taken root, that all subjects not directly connected 

 with physical science are out of place here. It is well to remember that this 

 Institute embraces a much wider circle than this, and that there are many of 

 its members who would feel great enjoyment in listening to papers, and taking 

 part in discussions, on subjects of a difier-ent nature. But minor defects of the 

 kind alluded to, after all, sink iato comparative insignificance when we 

 remember the broad, patent fact that this Institute is becoming steadily more 

 successful in its efforts, because more generally appreciated, year by year. This 

 is the best test of our progress, and the result warrants me in expressing a 

 confident hope that the Institute will, during the pi'esent session, maintiain 

 that high character which it has from tlie first enjoyed. 



Dr. Haast said he was sure he expressed the opinion of the members of the 

 Institute when he said that the address just delivered was a very excellent one. 

 It showed that the Institute had acted wisely in electing Mr. Tancred to the 

 position of President. 



Second Meeting. 2nd Aijril, 1873. 

 H, J. Tancred, President, in the cliaii'. 

 New memher. — C. J, Foster, LL.D. 



1. " On the Desirability of Dedicating to the People of New Zealand 

 Small Areas of Ground, assimilating to the Village Greens of England," * by 

 F. E. Wright. 



* This paper appeared at length in tbe " Lyttelton Times " of a subsequent date. 



