As the Otago Institute is now fairly launched, the first question for us to determine is, whether we are to stand alone, or to be incorporated with the New Zealand Institute. The principal advantages of incorporation, shown by the Act of 1867 (by which the New Zealand Institute was created), are, that we shall obtain, 1st, the invaluable services of Dr. Hector, in superintending any Museum or Laboratory that we may hereafter possess, or which may be entrusted to us; and 2nd, a share of any sum that may be placed on the Colonial estimates for the purposes and expenses of the New Zealand Institute. But the greatest advantage of all lies in the fact, that, in all such societies as the present, co-operation is the highest requisite for success. In all probability the most useful work that at this moment lies before the New Zealand Institute is the compilation of a complete Natural History of the colony; and to that history the Institute of each province should contribute a chapter. Without the co-operation of all, to attempt such a work would be hopeless.

If, however, we prefer independence, the path is open; and whichever we determine upon, I trust we shall legally unite in carrying out our present undertaking, so far as our ability extends; I trust, too, that we shall be guided in our pursuit by the precepts of that philosophy, which has been mentioned as one of the special objects we hope to promote. I do not allude to the visionary theories set forth by the magnificent eloquence of Plato; nor to the barren sophistry of Scholiasts, into which degenerated the more practical codes of Aristotle. Still less should we follow the school of the eighteenth century, though their pages be illumined by the massive and splendid diction of Gibbon, the lucid beauty of the style of Hume, the brilliant imagination of Rousseau, and the scathing sarcasm of Voltaire. Their philosophy commenced by a denial of the truth of Christianity, and appropriately culminated amid the orgies of the French revolution, in the blasphemous worship of the Goddess of Reason. Their anti-christian writings have already passed into deep shadow, soon to darken into night. There are records of their powers of distraction, but of their philosophical creations scarce a trace remains. On the other hand, the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, though favoured by Emperors, fostered by the Church, after a culture of two thousand years, ended where it began, in words, and words alone. Let us turn rather to our own great countryman;—to him who wrote, at the age of thirty-one, that he had “taken all knowledge to be his province,” and whose right to assert this has never been questioned. It was reserved for Francis Bacon to show that the highest end of wisdom is to be of use; and that nothing that is of use to the meanest, is below the notice of the highest. The ancient philosophy aimed at training men to endure evils patiently; that of Bacon preferred to remedy them. Plato deemed the most brilliant invention in mechanics, a discredit to a true disciple. Bacon estimated a philosopher's learning solely by the fruit it promised for the use of man, the “Novum organum,” Bacon's greatest work, gave a new direction to the human intellect; and by that change, has changed the face of the world.

To apply his precepts to our present object, we should constantly keep in mind that there is not a rock on the mountain, a stratum of soil in the plain, a tree in the forest, or a herb in the pasture that has not its use—what that use is, it is for science and experience to discover; and every new discovery adds a new source of wealth to the colony, and a fresh incentive to immigration. And it is in bringing together for the test of science the results of experiences scattered through the colony, that the value of co-operation amongst the Institutes of the various provinces, will be especially manifested.

Take, for instance, that which, next to gold and coal, is probably our most important indigenous product, the New Zealand flax. The value has long been recognised, but our attempts at preparing it for export have been simply a series of blundering experiments. Let each Institute prepare a careful report on the varieties of the plant, the modes of culture, the chemical and mechanical means used in preparing it for use or sale; and forward with that report models of the machinery used, and specimens of flax in various stages of preparation. Let the whole of these reports, models, and specimens be laid before some able chemists and mechanicians; before men who are not only thoroughly versed in those sciences, but who have all the appliances of science, and ample time to use them. Our experimental difficulties would soon be solved; and it would be difficult to over-estimate the importance of their solution to the colony. Within a few years after, the export of flax would probably rival in importance that of wool.

With respect to scientific appliances, we may congratulate ourselves on the fact that the province already possesses a large and valuable Museum, the care of which will probably be entrusted to us by the Government. We hope to establish a scientific library, as the next requisite; and at as early a date as our funds permit, to add a laboratory. We trust to be in close connection with those Acclimatisation, Agricultural, and Horticultural Societies, which have already conferred so much benefit on Otago. In every town, and in every gold field we should have our correspondents, and every change in the face of the province, every new botanical or geological discovery, every rare phenomenon of nature, should be registered on our records. The contribution of original papers, with lectures and periodical meetings, complete all that we can expect to compass for the