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beforehand. The people out in New Zealand and our other colonies are 
as eager to grasp at things that are new as is the case here, and this tendency 
is, perhaps, more noticeable in the colonies than at home. There is a sort of 
feverish anxiety to obtain everything that is fresh and novel, whether it be 
in matters of books or dress, or whatever else excites the imagination or 
curiosity ©f the people. Many persons who go to the colonies fancy they 
are about to breathe a freer atmosphere than they are leaving behind. 
Therefore I say that if a society like this is needed in England it is also 
needed in the colonies, and with tenfold urgency ; and seeing what this 
Society is doing, not only here, but in other parts of the world, I think 
we are greatly indebted to its officers for the work they perform. (Hear, 
hear.) I may say further that that work is much appreciated by us. I am 
glad to see, from the report that has been presented to-night, that we are not 
only receivers, but that we are also contributors ; for in the list of meetings 
you have held this year I find that, on April 3rd, a paper on “ Materialism,” 
which was read here, was written by a New Zealander. (Hear, hear.) Judge 
Kichmond, who was the author of that paper, is one of our most distin- 
guished legal authorities, and you will be glad to know that this lecture on 
“Materialism” has proved in New Zealand a great help to many wavering 
minds among our people. (Hear, hear.) Therefore it is not a mere matter 
of theory of which I speak. On the contrary, you are really working 
in connexion with, and to the great advantage of, the colonies, whose 
people are greatly encouraged by what you do, as well as by the fact 
that you recognise ability where it is to be met with, and are sending 
forth papers of great value to a much wider audience than a writer 
can ensure in a new country like New Zealand. You will, I think, agree 
with me when I say that we have a claim upon the help you can render us, 
not so much because of the magnitude of our colonies, but because of their 
potentiality. (Hear, hear.) There is such a future before them, and we, 
who have to lay the foundation of that future, have a constant feeling that 
the work we have to do is quite sufficient for those who have it to perforin. 
You have probably often heard of the kind of duties a colonial bishop has 
to discharge : he is often in the saddle, moving about from place to place ; 
and, under the circumstances in which he is placed, what can he do ? Even 
if he had the power, he could not do much in the direction taken by societies 
such as this. He has not a library full of scientific books, and he naturally 
turns to you as a legitimate authority which is known and recognised, not 
alone as an authority of titles and names, but as one possessing a real and 
tried power, numbering among its members men of great learning, thought, 
and experience. Therefore, it is that we feel the greatest satisfaction in 
knowing that we have the help of an Institute like this ; and, although we 
are aware that wisdom is not necessarily tied to reputation, we feel pretty 
sure, after all, what we are looking to and what kind of assistance w r e shall 
have when we take advantage of the means your Institute affords. I ask 
yon, then, on behalf of the colonies, to continue the help you have given us, 
even in a larger degree than heretofore. I have noticed a statement in the 
