440 Proceedings. 



Vice-Presidents — J. McKeiTOw, D. Brent ; Council — Professor Black, W. 

 Blair, C.E., A. Bathgate, R. Gillies, Professor Shaiid, H. Skey, P. Thomson ; 

 Hon. Treasurer — J. S. Webb ; Hon. Secretary — Captain F. W. Hutton. 



1. " On the Mythology and Traditions of the Maori in New Zealand," by 

 the Rev. F. H. Wohlers. 



First Meeting. 1th Ajml, 1874. 

 J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S., President, in the chair. 

 iVew memhers. — Dr. Bake well, — . Mouat. 

 The President read the following anniversary 



ADDRESS. 



The first meeting of the Institute took place on July 20th, 18G9; we are 

 therefore approaching the fifth year of our existence. In looking over the 

 papers published by the New Zealand Institute, of which this one is an 

 affiliated society, I think it will be generally acknowledged that, after we have 

 subtracted those written by the official or Government staff", our share of work 

 has been fairly done ; not that I would have you to relax your efibrts in the 

 pursuit of knowledge, but that they may be redoubled. 



On Natural History we have had papers by Messrs. J. S. Webb, A. C. Purdie, 

 A. Bathgate, W. D. Murison, P. Thomson, and R. Gillies, also by 

 Captain F. W. Hutton ; on Mathematics, by Messrs. Brent and R. Wilding ; 

 on Archaeology, by Dr. Eccles ; on Botany, by Mr. J. Buchanan ; on Physics, 

 by Messrs. M. Chapman and J. S. Webb ; on Geology, by Messrs. 

 J. M'Kerrow, and L. 0. Beal ; on Physical Geography, by Mr. P. Thomson; on 

 Ethnography, by Mr. J. T. Thomson ; on Meteorology, by Mr. J. S. Webb ; 

 on Engineering, by Messrs. G. M. Barr and Villaine ; on Mechanics, by Mr. 

 J. T. Thomson ; on Astronomy, by Messrs. J. S. Webb and H. Skey. These 

 papers appear in the first five volumes of the New Zealand Institute, but 

 were principally given in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. 



In choosing me as the third person to hold the presidency, you were so 

 good as to give a reason for this — viz., that I had done work. It is no doubt 

 a gratification to me to find that the little I have done has been thus 

 appreciated, and, apart from all personal considerations, I think the principle a 

 fair one, to be occasionally upheld as an incentive to exertion on the part of 

 other workers, members of this Institute. 



Observation is the practical and scientific basis on which our minds can 

 work, and the more accurate and extended this be, so much the more just and 

 comprehensive will be our views and conclusions. The country in which we 

 live naturally presents the most ready and interesting field for observation. 



