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Vol I, No. 1, N.Z. JOUKNAL OP SCIENCE (New Issue) JANUABY, 1891. 



Judicio pevpendc . et si tibi vera videntur 



Dede mantis : aut si Jalsum est, adcingere contra. 



— Lucretius. 



The New Zealand Journal of Science was first published just nine 

 years ago and alter an existence of four years, its publication was 

 suspended until better times should dawn on the Colony. The causes 

 which led to the discontinuance of the periodical were stated in the 

 last number, that of November, 1885. These causes may again lead 

 to the suspension of the present issue, but we trust that by the 

 exercise of a more severe economy in management, all expenses but 

 the most necessary will be eliminated, and thus the Journal will be 

 kept going as long as a minimum number of subscribers can be got. 

 As was stated in the circular sent out on 1st November, 1890, there is 

 no margin of profit in the publication of such a periodica], unless the 

 subscribers are far more numerous than past experience leads us to 

 expect. Should, however, the number of subscribers exceed our 

 anticipations, then the size of the publication will be increased, and 

 we may even hope to resume illustrations. As we have no machinery 

 for the coUection of subscriptions, it must be understood that all 

 subscribers are expected to pay in advance, as on no other plan can 

 the venture be carried out. 



As regards the lines on which the publication will be conducted, 

 past experience may supply a few hints. It is intended, as far as 

 possible, to exclude all purely technical matter such as descriptions of 

 species, &c, except where brief details may be introduced descriptive 

 of authors' papers. Where it is desirable to give information on 

 purely technical papers relating to New Zealand, the attempt will be 

 made to obtain simple and concise abstracts. It is hoped that all 

 scientific papers relating to this colony, or containing matter of 

 special interest in this part of the world, will be brought under the 

 notice of the Editor. Notes on Natural History, Acclimatisation and 

 kindred subjects ought to bulk largely in such a periodical. We 

 should also like to see our columns made use of for the discussion of 

 scientific methods in mining and other applied arts, which are of 

 immense use in a colony like this. 



It may be asked : What is there in the signs of the times which 

 should lead to greater anticipations of success than in 1882 ? We 

 reply that in view of the recent formation of the Australasian 

 Association for the advancement of Science, and the fact that its 

 meeting this season is to be held in New Zealand, the time seems 

 opportune for reviving the Journal. Such a gathering of scientific 

 men in these islands, can hardly fail to excite a spirit of renewed 

 activity among some whose interest may be flagging. 



Every year there will probably be a more and more determined 

 attempt to cut out of the annual Parliamentary estimates of this 

 colony the small vote which secures the publication of the Transac- 

 tions of the New Zealand Institute. The class of men who are beinQ- 



