242 The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology. [July 
deal, but of necessity briefly, with the history of the Institute itself, 
touching on its modest beginnings, its past achievements—if I dare so 
call them—and its activities at the present time. Then I shall say 
something about what I take to be the aspirations of the Institute, and 
its aims. 
To the great majority of the people of this Dominion the New Zealand 
Institute is at best but a name. The world over, the incalculable benefits 
of science are accepted without a thought as to how or from whom such 
benefits are derived. 
This present time is assuredly a critical period in the history of mankind ; 
it is even a critical period in the history of this wonderful New Zealand, 
endowed though she be with an infinity of riches and potentialities for 
greatness. At no time in the history of the British Empire has the untiring 
prosecution of science been more urgently demanded. 
As for New Zealand, it is not sufficient to rely upon investigations 
carried on beyond her borders. She has her special problems, which can 
be solved only upon her own soil, and which ought surely to be investigated 
by her own sons and daughters. It is essential, then, that the sole scientific 
body of the Dominion—the New Zealand Institute—should get into much 
closer touch with the people, and that the relation of the Institute to the 
progress of the Dominion, both materially and intellectually, should become 
more fully understood. 
The New Zealand Institute had its beginnings in certain small societies 
which were formed at Nelson and Wellington respectively in the early days 
of those provinces. The colonists had brought with them the freedom 
and the manners and customs of the Motherland, and, so equipped, their 
intention was to form a Britain in this far south. Evidently some of 
these colonists were not forgetful of those splendid British learned societies 
which had their origin in that small coterie—soon to become the Royal 
Society—-which met in London in 1651, even while the Civil War was 
raging. Therefore quite early certain scientific bodies were established. The 
Nelson.Society yet remains as the Nelson Institute. The New Zealand 
Society founded in Wellington in 1851 by Sir George Grey soon became 
defunct owing to the departure of its gifted founder from New Zealand. 
In 1859 a new society, but bearing the same name was formed in 
Wellington. Some years later, at the instance of Bishop Abraham, the 
name was changed to the “ Wellington Philosophical Society/’ In 1862 
the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury was founded, and, later on, the 
Auckland Institute. All the above bodies had as their main, though not 
their sole, object the prosecution of scientific research. Amongst the earliest 
workers the names of Buchanan, Buller, Colenso, Haast, Hector, Monro, 
Sinclair, and Travers stand out prominently. These small societies were 
greatly hampered not only through lack of funds, but for want of a local 
journal in which the results of the investigations of their members could 
be published. This crying need was met by the establishment in 1867 of 
the New Zealand Institute by means of an Act of the General Assembly. 
The Institute as thus constituted consisted of a Board of Governors, three 
of whom were members ex officio, six were nominated by the Government, 
and three were elected by the Board of Governors from nominees of the 
incorporated societies. Dr. (afterwards Sir James) Hector, F.R.S., was 
appointed Manager—a position unknown in learned societies in general. 
This important post he filled most ably until his retirement from the Public 
Service in the year 1903. 
