42 G. H. KNIBBS. 



as a point of vantage the intellectual wealth of the world at large, 

 must inevitably fall back in the race, because it is the methodical 

 availment of that advantage which has been fruitful of result, a 

 fact, as we have indicated, testified to so forcibly, by the brilliant 

 history of Germany's recent progress. 



Enough has been said to show that it is of national importance 

 that we should without delay, still further develope our libraries. 

 In respect of our Society's own, what has already been accom- 

 plished should be worthily continued. The generous impulse 

 which has instigated the issue to us of the leading scientific 

 journals of the world in return for our own, is a feature we regard 

 with pleasure. Since 1878 and up to the present time, we have 

 expended out of our very limited income, no less than ,£4,704, in 

 the purchase and binding of books and periodicals. The exchanges 

 annually received, have now a still greater money-value than our 

 purchases ; so that in publishing we not only afford investigators 

 an opportunity of adding their results to the sum-total of the 

 world's information, but we also acquire by this means, additions 

 to our library of great intrinsic value. The importance of this 

 cannot be overestimated : it is a beginning full of promise for the 

 scientific future of the colony, and fully justifies our publishing 

 expenditure of £3,602 during the last twelve years. 



In the matter of the scientific equipment of our city, we are in 

 some respects well off, but in others the reverse. The science 

 schools of the University, are in every instance fine monuments 

 of the earnestness of purpose of the professors in charge, to whose 

 untiring efforts their equipment is largely due. But for their 

 proper utilization they are not sufficiently endowed ; in fact, it is 

 not putting the case too strongly to say that their energies are 

 sadly crippled by that very fact. The view has been expressed 

 that we can well rest content on past achievement : that our 

 learned institutions have been more than liberally treated, and 

 that we expect overmuch if we anticipate further assistance. 

 That both private individuals and the Government have splendidly 

 helped us, we gladly and gratefully recognise : but it must not be 



