matters, that the noticing of those papers which the Governors of the New Zealand Institute have held worthy a place in their published Transactions, is rather a prerogative of the President of that body, than of the head of one of its affiliated Societies; and in this view I am inclined to agree. But so brief a retrospect as that in which I propose to indulge, which it will not be found in any way to anticipate, far less to supersede, the address of our common President, will yet I trust be not without its uses to us, in the encouragement to future energy which inevitably follows the contemplation of honest work already achieved.

In Natural History, the contributions of our veteran friend, Dr. F. J. Knox, naturally take precedence. To those old settlers who can with me remember the steady interest which Dr. Knox has shown for the last thirty years, in the Cetacea which frequent our seas, it will be a matter of congratulation, that at last his patient study is rewarded by the establishment, in the land of his adoption, of a society to which his valuable notes can be communicated, and by which they can be preserved, not to our profit alone, but even more especially to that of the scientific men of countries not possessing the facilities for observation of this interesting class of mammals which we enjoy; to these, the observations of one so long known as a skilled and accurate observer, will naturally be of the greatest interest and value. The papers on some of our Lizards, by the same gentleman, will I trust be followed by many others, not by Dr. Günther only, but by our venerable friend, and by such more youthful successors to him in this attractive study, as our Societies may produce in future years.

Passing the narrow boundary which separates erpetology from ornithology, I must congratulate you on the charming paper by Mr. Potts, —a clear, simple, and accurate result of work which has evidently extended over many years, and conveyed in a manner so attractive that it cannot fail to bring to his aid in further observations, many from whom, as well as from their pioneer, we shall hope to receive a never failing supply of similar records of carefully observed facts. For after all, our first and most important duty at this epoch of our acquaintance with the natural history of our country, is the collection of facts,—an ounce of fact is worth a pound of theory, and if we take care of facts we may be sure that theories will take care of themselves,—and to that care for the present let us leave them. If we wish examples of theories formed in advance of facts, and of the tortures to which facts when found are subjected in order that they may be made to fit those theories, let us

not waste our time or energy on their production. In Europe, where the intellectual as well as physical labour market is more numerously stocked than here, this manufacture of spurious natural history of unnatural history is in constant progress;— few scientific periodicals reach us without specimens of it, in various degrees of perfection. As in this matter we never can compete with the antipodes, either in cheapness or rapidity of production, let us abstain from the attempt. Let us be satisfied with the nobler occupation of learning truths from nature who never lies, and leave once and for ever the attempt to foster human vanity by perverting the truths of nature to those to whom such occupation is congenial.

As the friendly discussion between our member, Mr. Buller, and Dr. Finsch, regarding the characters and nomenclature of some of our birds cannot yet be regarded as closed, I will, in noticing their interesting contributions, restrict myself to an expression of satisfaction, in which I am confident you fully share, that we should rank among our members one qualified so to avail himself of his opportunities of studying our avifauna in its own country, as to be able to come to the rescue of European labourers in the same field, and extricate them from the lamentable confusion inseparable from the attempt to determine species from the dried and distorted specimens in antipodean museums.

Our Botanical papers of last session are devoted almost exclusively to the flora of the northern portion of this Island, and include a valuable contribution from Mr. Kirk, on the Botany of the Thames Gold Fields, especially useful as the groundwork of future investigations of the causes which lead to modifications in the indigenous flora.

For our Chemical papers, we are indebted solely to the Geological Survey Department, whose able analyst, Mr. Skey, has, in the volume now under consideration, favoured us with contributions, all more or less of important practical bearing.

Among our Geological essays, it is pleasant to find that our “Wellington Gold Fields” have not escaped notice, although their yield has unfortunately not yet realized the hopes of those sanguine prospectors, whose energy would seem to merit a better return.

Mr. Traill's letter on the Fossils of the Tertiary series of Oamaru and Moeraki, is to me particularly interesting, treating as it does of a formation which I had an opportunity of hurriedly inspecting in 1848 and subsequent years. It is much to be desired that the investigation as to the age of these beds, in which Mr. Traill has made such progress, should be continued by that gentleman, as no one I am sure could bring

to the task a more cautious mind, or a more inexorable determination to be content with none but true results.

In addition to the foregoing, our society has, during the past year, produced an essay, in which the difficulties in the way of a general system of education are carefully considered, and a scheme proposed well worthy the attention of our Legislature.

The successful raising of the steamer “Taranaki,” in Queen Charlotte Sound, is described in a paper which, with its careful drawings of the appliances used, will be of great value to those who may hereafter attempt similar undertakings.

The great attention given in late years in the so-called stone epoch of the human race, and the avidity with which every chip or flake which could be imagined to have derived its present form from human agency, has been collected, confer an interest on the far superior nature- worked stones found on our drifting sand flats, which formerly they failed to attract. When I refer to these stones, on which Mr. Travers has favoured us with a few remarks, as superior, I do not of course speak of them in comparison with the unmistakable celts, spear-heads, arrow- heads, mining tools, and other forms familiar to us, and unquestionably the work of human hands. But as in symmetry and finish they assuredly far surpass the vast majority of those specimens which are now collected as indubitably shaped by men, it is well that the attention of those who make the early condition of our race their peculiar study, should be directed to the existence of these very deceptive specimens. Before leaving this subject, I cannot resist the temptation of adding another to the many theories to which it has given birth. We know that it was the practice of good old Maoris to bend into knots the stems of youug manuka plants, in order that their children might be supplied with a stock of curved hardwood of which to make those large and cumbrous shark-hooks, of which every museum contains examples. Should we, therefore, be unprepared some day to find that the same prudent foresight has induced them to utilize for posterity the abrading action of drift-sand, by planting stones in places where they might in time be brought to something approaching the desired shape.

Before leaving the consideration of our past year's work, I must be allowed to express my deep sense of the great advantage we enjoy in the presence among us of the head quarters of the Institute and Geological Survey, and of the admirable Museum formed under their auspices. It will be our own fault, and a matter of grave reproach to us, if, with these aids, we do not attain to a foremost place among our

friendly rivals of other affiliated Societies. If I have passed over, almost in silence, the contributions read before our Society by Dr. Hector, and his assistants, Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Skey, I have done so from a desire carefully to avoid the appearance of claiming as the work of our local Society essays of high interest, for the production of which we are indebted to the accident of our geographical position. I therefore leave to the President of the Institute the pleasing duty of calling due attention to the productions of the gentlemen I have named, and limit myself to the expression of a hope that, whether their papers are originally read here or elsewhere, we may long continue to find in our Transactions such standard contributions to the study of the science of our country.

An account of the additions to the collections in the Colonial Museum during the past year will come more naturally from our friend the Manager of the New Zealand Institute, but I may be allowed now to draw your attention more particularly to the highly interesting reptilian remains found at Waipara and Amuri, by Mr. Holmes, Dr. Haast, and others, giving strong proof that even here in New Zealand, as in England during the Wealden period, there has once been an “Age of Reptiles.” The determination of the generic characters of the monsters to whom these relics belonged, will, from many causes, be tedious and difficult, but upon us, apparently, the task will devolve. It is true that that distinguished comparative anatomist, Professor Owen, has already published one or more papers upon these remains, including in the last which I have seen, a notice of some of the specimens in our Museum, with engravings after some of the excellent drawings by Mr. Buchanan, forwarded to him by the Director of the Geological Survey. But, whether from insufficiency of specimens, or from whatever other cause, Professor Owen does not appear inclined at present to risk his reputation by any further attempts to determine even the generic characters of these remains. It is difficult to conceive what other than this very natural motive could have deterred him from noticing the reptilian teeth found with the bones, of which admirable drawings were to my knowledge forwarded with those which he has engraved and described. Further then, than that Professor Owen has, from the specimens already submitted to him, determined two species of Plesio- saurus to have formerly existed in our waters with a third of another genus, we at present know nothing definite. It is clear, however, that our new collections contain remains of genera quite distinct from those which have been described by Professor Owen.

As to the difficulties, in the first place our libraries are but ill- supplied with the necessary works of reference on the Reptilia. And, again, the specimens are, for the most part, imbedded in a matrix so hard and tough, that the development of them will require even more care and patience than that of the saurian remains of the Tilgate, from the most refractory of the Wealden beds. Unless, indeed, we can find among our members some volunteer, possessed of the requisite patience, perseverance, and time for the work, I much doubt whether we shall, in our time, arrive at clear ideas of the precise forms of many of the bones even now in the Museum. Already, however, we have sufficient proof that the thorough working out of the geology of Waipara and Amuri is among the most important tasks which could now be undertaken, and I trust that the preliminary notes upon that subject already furnished by Mr. Hood, Mr. Holmes, Dr. Haast, and Dr. Hector, may, in the approaching summer, be supplemented and completed by a more regular survey by the head of the department.

Next to the rapidly increasing importance and public utility of the Colonial Museum, no undertaking that I am aware of is likely more substantially to aid in furtherance of the objects of our Society than the formation of a Botanical Garden, of the successful accomplishment of which there now seems to be a reasonable probability, and we may, I am assured, confidently trust, that the gentlemen to whom the direction of this work is committed, will keep constantly in view the great public objects to be attained by the proper use of a Botanical Garden in this, the average climate of the colony, and will resist the temptation of sacrificing to gaudy parterres of foreign flowers the space required for the assembling together specimens of all our indigenous flora. When that most instructive collection has been achieved, or at least when a sufficient space for such a collection has been carefully selected and set apart for that purpose, there will remain plenty of room for some of the more valuable importations whether of trees, shrubs, or flowers. Should any impediment arise from that too common cause, insufficiency of funds, I feel confident that some substantial aid, in an Institution offering such attractions, will gladly be afforded by our fellow citizens. I would even suggest to the Council of our Society that, relieved as we are from the expense of maintaining a separate Museum, a portion of our funds might appropriately be devoted to this kindred work. In connection with this subject we have reason to regard with great gratification, the recent accession to the Ministry of a gentleman to whom more than to any one else, excepting perhaps Mr. Stafford, the Govern-

ment Domain of Auckland is indebted for the tasteful development of the natural beauties for which it is so justly celebrated.

It would ill become me in addressing, as President, the Society of which he was the actual suggester and founder, to conclude without reference to my distinguished predecessor Sir George Grey. It was at his suggestion, and with every encouragement and assistance from him, that eight gentlemen in this city undertook and successfully achieved the formation of the New Zealand Society,—the parent, I may almost call it, of the New Zealand Institute. During the whole of his New Zealand career, Sir George Grey lost no opportunity of encouraging the pursuit of science; and, should he ever return to the colony, I feel certain that he would be again found in the foremost ranks of those who labour to promote intellectual activity among the colonists. I cannot forget the pleasant manner in which, when as Secretary I announced to him his election as President of the New Zealand Society, he said in his quizzical way, “I am glad they have made the Presidency elective, for now I may hope some day to see you elected.” I must own that in those days I did not very confidently foresee that such an honour would be conferred upon me. Now, however, I may retort, and express a sincere hope that should Sir George return, I may see him re-elected.

I had purposed before closing my address, to call your attention to the great benefits, moral and intellectual, which accrued to those who gave their leisure to the pursuit of science. With this object, I had carefully collected opinions of authors of the greatest weight, and enlivened my lucubrations with, here and there, a quotation from authors sacred and profane, classical and non-classical, practical or prosy, in support of my thesis. But happening at last to glance at a slight work by one of the most eminent statesmen of our day, I found there epitomized in a paragraph all of value in my more lengthy labours; therefore, desirous above all things that you, especially the younger of you, should remember what I had to say on this subject, and bearing in mind that “to speak little commands the memory,” I resolved without a regret to cast aside my own prolixities, and strive to impress upon you the simple words of the statesman.

It is Sir Robert Peel who speaks :—“Heed not the sneers and foolish sarcasms against learning of those who are unwilling that you should rise above the level of their own contented ignorance. Do not for a moment imagine that you have not time for acquiring knowledge; it is only the idle man who wants time for everything. The industrious man knows the inestimable value of the economy of time, and amidst the