New Zealand Institute

“ The Institute and the incorporated societies supply machinery which is already being utilized, but which I believe to be capable of being utilized to a greater extent than it is at present, in the grand work of diffusing general education. In this sense I regard the Institute as supplementary to the schools, which are so rapidly increasing in number, and the University Colleges which are being established in all the centres of population in New Zealand, as a means by which that spirit of inquiry which has been aroused in early youth may find scope in later life. ”

“ I am happy to say that there is not one of these subjects that has been not merely touched upon, but very carefully gone into; in fact, I greatly doubt whether any young country in the world has been so systematically investigated as New Zealand has been under the auspices of this Institute. I need not say how much of this has been due to the untiring energy of Dr. Hector, who has not only been the life and soul of the Society, but has had the laborious duty of editing the Volumes of Transactions. ”

“ Still, let me remind you that the main object of the Legislature in founding this Institute was not merely to make provision for healthy intellectual recreation, but rather to provide guidance and aid for the people of New Zealand in subduing and replenishing the earth,—in the "heroic work" of colonization.
The field of science may be compared to a clearing in one of our primeval forests, where the more trees a settler fells, the greater appears the expanse of wood around him ”

“ Martin Chapman, the member nominated by the society to vote in the election of governors of the New Zealand Institute, was duly elected. The statement of accounts shows the balance at present to the credit of the society to be £105 14s. ”

“ They were the real pioneers of the movement; they broke up the virgin soil, and planted the germ out of which has sprung the present Institute, with branches established in almost every provincial district, and an influence extending from Auckland to Invercargill. ”

“ Each Incorporated Society may, in the month of November next, nominate for election as Honorary Members of the New Zealand Institute three persons, and in the month of November in each succeeding year one person, not residing in the Colony. ”

“ This country has had the rare good fortune of having already among its inhabitants distinguished scientific men who have explored the region for the greater profit of the new society, and for the interests of those who are occupied with the general knowledge of the globe. The Institute of New Zealand was founded at Auckland in 1868. Its members proposed to have for their use museums and public libraries, and to disseminate by all means possible, instruction relative to questions of art, of science, and of literature. ”

“ They have grieved Mr. Thomson very much, and they have initiated a controversy which can hardly be pleasantly conducted, and which, therefore, forms an undesirable element in the proceedings of a Society like ours. Yet place was bound to be given to what Mr. Thomson desired to say. As Dr. Hector's reply to Mr. Thomson's paper has not been communicated to this Institute, I take leave to express the hope that the "Transactions of the New Zealand Institute" will include nothing further on the subject. ”

“ Everything, therefore, that tends to calm or mollify such passions, and render us more considerate and tolerant the one to the other, has—indeed, must have—a salutary effect. And what is better fitted to produce such an effect than meeting for the friendly discussion of topics connected with arts, science, and literature?
In a social point of view, therefore, the advantages which will result from a flourishing institution, such as this Institute may become under vigorous and careful management, should not be overlooked or depreciated. ”

“ The persons holding office as President and Vice-President respectively of the New Zealand Institute immediately before the passing of this Act shall be deemed to be President and Vice-President of the Society until the persons first appointed to those offices under subsection one of this section come into office. ”

“ It is with regret I have to call the attention of the members of the Institute to the very small progress that scientific education is making in New Zealand. This is not only the case with the instruction now being given in our schools, but also in the training of the future teachers.
Colleges have been established in Otago and Canterbury with the necessary appliances for teaching the higher branches of science, but there is no systematic elementary training to produce a supply of students. In the elementary schools it is absolutely neglected ”

“ It is obvious that we have taken upon ourselves no light task, if we discharge efficiently but one-half even of the duties which devolve upon us. For myself, it would be much more agreeable to me to occupy a position of less prominence than that in which it has pleased the members of this Institute to place me, for I cannot but feel that much more will reasonably be expected from the President than I can hope to fulfil. ”

“ My first duty this evening is to tender my thanks to those of my fellow-members who, by their contributions of papers to our proceedings and by their animated discussion of the subjects of many of those papers, have made it proper for me to say that the session of the Institute during which it has been my privilege to preside over our meetings, has been more interesting and more important than any that has preceded it. The time of weakness and struggle is, I think, now past for the Otago Institute ”

“ In 1872 Sir George Maurice O’Rorke, whose whole life was associated with the Auckland University College, and who was Chairman of the Council from its inception until his death on 24th August, 1916, made an unsuccessful effort to institute a university in the city. Five years later another agitation was set in being, and resulted in the appointment of a Royal Commission on University and Secondary Education, which reported in July, 1879. ”

“ Fertile and well watered alluvial plains are there awaiting the enterprising settler; a virgin soil, on which he founds a new home; a land blessed with the most genial climate, where he has hut to battle with and subdue the wilderness to reap the never-failing fruits of his labours. [2]
Next to Geology, botanical research will command the attention of the Institute. Here we have an admirable model for our guidance in Dr. Hooker's "Handbook of the New Zealand Flora," a work which proves how much cordial co-operation furthers the advancement of science. ”

“ The Board shall have power from time to time to make regulations under which societies may become incorporated with the Institute, and to declare that any incorporated society shall cease to be incorporated if such regulations are not complied with ”

“ The High School at Dunedin, and Christ College School, both have able science teachers; but instead of their whole time being devoted to the preparation and delivery of lectures, and to tutorial work in science, they have the general class-work of a division entrusted to them, the science work being taken when they are liberated by their class being taken by other special masters. Position in the school being in no way dependent on their scientific knowledge, the boys think it is of no value, and look upon its study as a bore. ”

“ M. Maclay is of opinion, although he will not speak positively until he has made further investigations, that the Australian blacks are not connected either with the Papuans or the Polynesians, but form an independent race. I have lately heard that he has returned to this part of the world to carry on his ethnological investigations; and I trust that, should he come to New Zealand, he will be cordially welcomed by the members of the Institute. ”