THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1995, 27 September 1869, Page 2

THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

(To the Editor of the Eveninq Star.) Sir, —As one of the members of the Otago Institute, unavoidably absent from last meeting. I desire to avail myself of your columns to record my strongest protest against the indecent haste with which the important question of incorporation with the the New Zealand Institute was forced on to a final issue. When it is remembered that this was the verr first time that the matter had been brought on for discussion—that the

state of the weather was extremely inclement —that not more than “ about thirty” (even according to your contemporary) out of eighty members were present —that many of those members known to be unavoidably absent, were also known to be opposed to the motion; and when moreover one of these members, and he the Superintendent of the Province, had taken the trouble to forward a written statement of his disapproval; and that, lu addition to all this, a very respoctab'e minority even of tho e members who were present also expressed their opposit on to the motion —then, sir, I think that all will admit that the conduct of the temp, nry majoiity in refusing to accede even to a short adjournment, thus bulking the whole question, was not such as to augur well for the harmonious working of the Society. If in an important discussion on a subject all but vital to the very existence of the Society, and under all the circumstances of the case as referred to ab ive, the very moderate amount of courtesy asked for in this instance is not to be shown, then indeed I have but little hope that the Otago Institute will escape the fate of the many other movements that after as ostentatious a commencement, even as it, have terminated the career of their brief and sickly existence by dying a natural death. I am curious to know how those members of the Council who have expressed themselves as strongly opposed to the incorporation movement will act, when they are called upon to deal with the resolution as passed. Will they enter their decided protest ? Will they represent to tho Governors of the New Zeaiand Institute the real circumstances under which it was passed, as a valid reason for their not acceding to it till further confirmed? If not; then I must say, that in my opinion they will fail in their duty. For while I believe implicitly in the duty of submittidg with a good grace to the decision of a majority, that decision must be fairly arrived at and clearly expressed, which I deny has in this instance been the case.

Bye the by.*, this reference to the New Zealand Institute reminds mo, that I have heard s'me doubt expressed as to the correctness of your estimate of L4OOO, as the present annual cost to this Colony of Dr Hector and his staff. Perhaps you could give some further information upon the subject. Returning to the matter with which I set out, I observe, from your co temporary’s report of the meeting, that—“ A letter was read from Dr Hector, staling that he was preparing certain papers on rhe Geology ( f Otago, wnich would be forwarded to th"m, for the purpose of helping on the objec s > f the Society. Besides stating what was actually known of the geology of the province, these papers would contain suggestions f-r further investigations.” I confess I was quite taken aback by this announcement, coming as it did so soon after my reading all you have recently published about the difficulty of obtaining Dr Hector’s report &c., in accordance with the terms of that gentleman’s agreement. Perhaps when these papers arrive you will be able to inform your readers whether they are an instalment of the “ accurate geological .Survey of the Province,” which Dr Hector agreed to make and furnish the results thereof to his Honor the Superintendent.— i r ours &c., Audi altkfeji part' Dunedin, Sept., 25th, 1869. [Not being able to attend the meeting, we felt as much surpdsed as our correspondent on reading the paragraph quoted by him from the Daily Times. We refer any of our readers who feel interested in the matter to the articles already published in this journal c ncerning it, and they will be abl * to judge as to the measure of Dr Hector’s liberality. In our opinion, our correspondent is correct in his surmise that the “ Papers on the Geology of Otago,” said to contain all that “is actually known of the geology of the Province,” are “an instalment” of that “accurate. geological survey of the Province,” to make which Dr Hector was imported by the Province, and for which it has already paid heavily. It is certainly cool under, the circumstances to as a free gift to the Institute what the Provincial Government may lairly claim as a right. With regard to the doubt expressed of the correctness of our estimate that the cost to the Colony of Dr Hector and his staff is L4OOO, we shall refer again.—Eo. E. /S'.]