420 Proceedings. 



have been my individual wishes, I have bowed to the flattering and 

 unanimous opinion of the members of this society, and have again ascended 

 the presidential chair, trusting that you will kindly overlook my shortcomings. 

 Once more I beg to thank you for this proof of your confidence, and I wish at 

 the same time to assure you that, as in the past, so in the futui'e, it will be my 

 earnest endeavour to advance the interests of our society, which, I trust, will 

 rise in a very few years to a conspicuous place amongst its sister institutions in 

 New Zealand. Generally it is the custom of the president elect of a scientific 

 body to devote his opening address either to a general survey of the scientific 

 work done during the year, to allude to important discoveries in the several 

 branches of science, or to select one or several special subjects, of which, by 

 his own vocation, he is able to trace the advancement in years past. 



Owing to the peculiar geographical outlines with which New Zealand is 

 endowed, we do not possess one intellectual centre, as is the case in most older 

 countries, or even in many of the neighbouring colonies ; but the favourable 

 position and high aspirations of most of the provincial capitals, aided by the fore- 

 sight and wise legislation of the Provincial Councils, have secxared to them 

 peculiar advantages, which generally are not neglected, and will, I have no 

 doubt, be greatly instrumental in securing the rapid intellectual and material 

 development of this colony in every direction. Under these cii'cum stances the 

 President of this Institute, as well as those of the other societies forming part 

 of the New Zealand Institute, have followed a middle course, and, by devoting 

 some portion of their addresses to general observations, have not neglected to 

 enter into those special topics with which, by original research, they are best 

 acquainted. And whilst the New Zealand Institute has done good work in 

 acting as the publishing medium of these societies, I think, in the interest of 

 the colony and of members of the afiiliated societies, that a further step should 

 be taken to make this central institution still more useful. 



Amongst the improvements which I might venture to suggest, it would 

 simplify matters very much if the Presidents of the five affiliated societies, or 

 as many more as join in the future, were Governors ex officio, by which the 

 Board of Governors would gain in strength, and give each society, as it were, 

 a personal interest in the doings of the Central Board, always provided that 

 their attendance and assistance are required, and that their office is not an 

 honorary sinecure. At the same time it would be desii-able to have a general 

 meeting of all the Governors each year at one of the centres of population, 

 giving precedence to those where affiliated societies are located. During these 

 meetings, which might be arranged in the manner of those of the British 

 Association for the Advancement of Science and other similar institutions on 

 the Continent, the principal work of the year could be done, and thus all the 

 chief towns in the colony would in thei-r turn derive the advantages of such 



