Otago institute. Session of 1869. Proceedings.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 2, 1869, Page 425

Otago institute. Session of 1869. Proceedings. First Meeting. July 20, 1869. Mr. Justice Ward in the chair. A Constitution and Rules for the Institute were adopted. Office-bearers for the year ending 30th June, 1870, were elected, viz.:—President—His Honor Mr. Justice Ward; Vice Presidents—Alfred Eccles, F. R. C. S. E., Arthur Beverley; Council—L. O'Beal, Captain Fraser, R. Gillies, S. Hawthorne, Rev. D. M. Stuart, J. Smith, J. T. Thomson; Honorary Treasurer—W. D. Murison; Honorary Secretary—J. S. Webb. Second Meeting. August 24, 1869. Mr. Justice Ward, President, in the chair. The Chairman, as President of the Institute, delivered the following Inaugural Address. I desire to render all suitable acknowledgments for the honour you have done me, in electing me the first President of the Otago Institute:—an honour most unwillingly accepted, knowing as I do how many of those present are far more competent than I, to fill so onerous a post, and have far more leisure to devote to its duties. But I fully admit that every community has a right to call on those who hold high office in it, to take their share in such a movement as the present, and however inefficient my services may be they will at least be zealously given. I need scarcely say, also, that I am well aware, that in this instance, as in many others, the honour is rendered rather to the office than to him who happens for the present to fill it. We have met to-night to inaugurate a Society for the encouragement of Art, Science, Literature, and Philosophy. It would be difficult to lay wider foundations; and it is encouraging to reflect that, although Otago has not taken the lead in the formation of an Institute, such as the present, yet, in other respects, she may fairly claim precedence. No other province has attempted what Otago performed in 1865, at the Intercolonial Exhibition. Scarcely an effort has been made elsewhere to carry out such a Fine Arts Exhibition, as that which took place this year at Dunedin, none have been equally successful. With such successes in the past we may well look forward with confidence to the future. In so young a colony as ours, it is in the power of every man of average ability to leave behind him some “footprints on the sands of time,” pointing in the onward direction; and if the inhabitants of Dunedin only continue to display, in the cultivation of Arts and Science, one tithe of the energy that has hitherto distinguished them in mercantile and professional pursuits, we need have no fear of our ultimate success.

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

present; hereafter it may be that, in connection with this Institute, schools of chemistry, painting, and sculpture may be established; that our successors may offer prizes for essays and poems; may form a provincial gallery of pictures, and establish a yearly Fine Arts Exhibition, such as that which afforded both pleasure and instruction to the public of Dunedin in the present year; but the day for these has not yet come, and for the present we must attempt no more than our strength will warrant. There is one subject which has recently been much discussed among us, and on which, therefore, a few remarks may not be out of place: I allude to that which is termed by its votaries the “new faith of Spiritualism.” No creed, which numbers its believers of the Anglo-Saxon race by tens of thousands, can be beneath the attention of the wisest of modern philosophers. In fact, there are few psychological phenomena of our time which call for keener investigation from men of science than those attributed to spiritualism. Of those who believe in them, one-half, unable to explain or account for them, accept, without hesitation or enquiry, the theory propounded by their exhibitor; of the rest, the greater number attribute them to the direct agency of Satan. And by philosophers they are, for the most part, too hastily dismissed, as purely the products of jugglery and imposture. We would do well to remember that Lord Bacon, at the close of his treatise on Natural History, when referring to magic, and the powers of imagination, earnestly recommends that “whatsoever is of this kind should be diligently inquired into.” These phenomena were in secret to the magicians of Egypt, to the astrologers of Babylon, or the priests of the oracles of Delphi. In all ages they have existed, in all ages they have been connected with religious belief. In Europe, their existence faded away with heathenism, before the pure light of Christianity. But in the recesses of the East there have doubtless always lingered some relics of the mysteries of the ancient seers of Chaldea. Two of the most observant of modern travellers, Hoe and Gabi, declared their inability to account for the marvels they witnessed amid the demon worship of Thibet, save by referring them to the interposition of evil spirits. In the European revival of these practices, the principal novelty consists in their assumed connection with Christianity. Of old, these secrets were jealously guarded by those who profited by their possession; but whatever is of Christianity should bear the strictest scrutiny in the clear light of day. Doubtless, in the vast majority of cases, the phenomena are produced by causes, of the rationale of which the operators themselves are wholly ignorant; and in such cases mediums and querists are duped alike. When there arises a philosopher who will not pretend to despise these phenomena for fear of injuring his reputation for good sense—a man of science, unswayed by imagination or superstition, who will apply to them the test of Faraday and Liebig—we may then hope to learn by what cause, and in what manner, are produced the marvels, real or pretended, to which spiritualism owes its present celebrity. No enquirer of the present day should be awed by the word, or the theory of the supernatural, what the laws of nature are we may know when we stand face to face with Him by whom those laws were given. Until then, “We see through a glass darkly;” until then, we shall do well to remember that mysteries are not necessarily miracles; that marvellous phenomena are not necessarily supernatural, because we know not by what law of nature they are produced or governed. I have now pointed out—how imperfectly none know better than myself—some few of the objects we may strive to obtain, and the directions in which our efforts should tend. Doubtless, our part will be rather that of Moses than of Joshua—we may lead others to the borders of the promised land, which we may not live to enter ourselves. But when we have done our best we shall have done our duty to our successors. It is true, that amid all our daily toils we are but “Stumbling with our weight of cares upon the world's great altar stairs, that lead through darkness up to God.” Yet let us remember that it is written, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might.” If we have planted, others will water, and God will give the increase, as seems best to Him: and when that day comes that even now is faintly dawning, whose meridian splendour will shine over the next generation of colonists—when the name of New Zealand is written on the roll of nations, and she takes her stand as a member of that great Anglo-Saxon federation which will then sway the destinies of half the world, we may hope that it will then be acknowledged, that through the busy toils and arduous struggles of early colonization, the New Zealand Institute and her sister Societies held aloft the torch of science and fed the lamp of literature; and that among the foremost in that race of honour, upon which we have now entered, will be the Society which we inaugurate to-night—the Institute of the Province of Otago. On the motion of Mr. A. Eccles, seconded by Mr. R. B. Martin, an unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to the President for his interesting address.

Third Meeting. September 24, 1869. A. Eccles, F. R. C. S. E., Vice-President, in the chair. The Honorary Secretary laid on the table several donations to the Library. Moved by Mr. J. S. Webb, seconded by Mr. R. Oliver,—“That the Council request the Governors of the New Zealand Institute to take the necessary steps for the incorporation of this Society with the Institute.” Moved, as an amendment, by Mr. Robt. Stout, seconded by Mr. J. Logan,—“That the debate be adjourned, with the view of affording the Secretary an opportunity of obtaining from each member an expression of opinion, in writing, regarding the proposal for incorporation.” The amendment was put and lost, and the motion was carried nem. con. Fourth (Special) Meeting. October 30, 1869. A. Eccles, F. R. C. S. E., Vice-President, in the chair. The Honorary Secretary stated that the meeting was called for the purpose of appointing a member of the Institute to vote at the election of Governors of the New Zealand Institute, in accordance with clause 7 of the “New Zealand Institute Act, 1867.” Mr. J. S. Webb (Honorary Secretary) moved, Mr. W. M. Hodgkins seconded,—“That Mr. Justice Ward be appointed to represent this Institute at the election of three Governors of the New Zealand Institute for the ensuing year.” Mr. Charles Smith moved, as an amendment, Mr. G. Bell seconded,—“That this Institute declines to appoint one of its members to vote at the ensuing election of three Governors of the New Zealand Institute, until the Act of Incorporation had been so far amended, as to afford to incorporated societies real and adequate representation in the governing body.” The amendment was put and lost, and the original motion was then carried unanimously. On the motion of Mr. J. S. Webb, seconded by Mr. C. J. Smith, it was resolved,—“That Mr. Ward, if elected to be a Governor, be requested to represent the inadequacy of the representation of local societies in the Board of Governors.” Fifth Meeting. November 2, 1869. A. Eccles, F. R. C. S. E., Vice-President, in the chair, who delivered the following Address. Notwithstanding all the efforts that have hitherto been made in New Zealand, in which Otago, with her topographical and geological surveys, her associations and exhibitions of all kinds, and her Museum, has not been the least conspicuous worker amongst the provinces, the colony has remained little known to others, and the best informed, even amongst ourselves, are but slightly acquainted with the industrial future before her. Yet it was said by Count Cavour, the regenerator of United Italy, that the most urgent necessity of a nation determined to take her proper place in the scale of civilization, is to study and know herself, and to point out to others her present position, and the various natural resources at her disposal. Perhaps the most useful and practical end, then, which the Otago, as a Provincial, and the New Zealand as a Colonial Institute, can pursue, is to strive to obtain and promulgate a knowledge of the raw materials that may be found, or economically produced here, and the best means to utilise them. A century has just elapsed since Captain Cook, accompanied by Sir Joseph Banks and Dr. Solander, first landed in these islands, and much that has been subsequently recorded by scientific observers (especially in the field of botany), has been but confirmatory of their observations. Yet should we, who are benefitting so largely by their labours, give great honour to those practical men of our own day, who first founded settlements on these shores, of which they may well now be so proud; to those scientific men whose labours have done so much towards obtaining and classifying such information concerning the resources of the colony as we possess; and to those fortunate discoverers and producers who have, through gold mining, agriculture, and other industries, added so much to our wealth. When we look around us and remember, that even this settlement was literally a wilderness only twenty-one years since, we may well say that very much has been done, and we may rest assured that, whether assisted or not by this or kindred societies, those who have accomplished so much, and still remain amongst us,

will not cease from their labours; nor will their children, or new-comers fail to do their utmost, while pushing their own fortunes, to aid in advancing the general prosperity of the province and the colony. Recognising all this, how much has been, how much remains to be done, it is certain that the time has arrived to facilitate individual labour by the systematic collection of information as to what has been accomplished, and pointing out the various directions in which research or discovery would be most desirable, and most probably prove beneficial to individual workers and the community at large. Here will be a great and almost virgin field for the members of this Institute—to collect a really good library of works of reference, a want that is continually being felt, notwithstanding that many useful works are already to be found scattered amongst local libraries—to render more perfect that Museum, which it is but scant justice to Dr. Hector to say, forms a splendid nucleus for future additions—to collect and record fully and accurately facts of all kinds that relate to our industrial development, even though at the moment we may not be able to foresee their exact value or true bearing—to prepare practical papers, however short, and it may be not altogether conclusive, to be elaborated by careful discussion at our meetings, and to collect for the New Zealand Institute, and other such societies elsewhere, not only museum, but trade specimens of our products, whether raw or manufactured, with full and accurate information concerning them. The Royal Colonial Society, lately established in London, offers us great facilities for the exhibition of our products in its Museum, and of maps, statistics, and records in its Library, access to which will be so easy to those at home seeking information of any kind as to the colony. No one who has himself encountered the difficulty of obtaining reliable information on colonial subjects in Great Britain, or has observed, since he has himself become acquainted with the colonies, the lamentable ignorance displayed by even leading statesmen, affecting to govern them from Downing Street, will lightly estimate the valuable services colonists and the Colonial Society may mutually afford each other, and offer to enquirers, whether commercial, scientific, or public men at home. It would be well then for a sub-committee of this Institute to be appointed to make collections, representative of Otago and her resources, both for the Museum and the Library of the Colonial Society. So good an example would be speedily followed by other societies incorporated with the New Zealand Institute, and, after awhile, their united efforts would result in a collection eminently useful to New Zealand interests in Great Britain. We may be sure, too, that other colonies will avail themselves of the organisation afforded by the Colonial Society. Let us hope that there will soon be in that society's rooms a museum and library worthy of the Colonial Empire, not only rivalling, but surpassing the fine collection of Indian products and manufactures constituting the Indian Museum in Whitehall. Let it not be said that the bureaucratic government of India is more practically useful than the freer institutions of the colonies; or that self-government is but another name for slow material-development. Let colonists show to others what they know themselves of the enormous extent and value of the resources of the colonies, and then we may be sure the political value of these great countries will not, as now, be either doubted or ignored. It would be necessary for the sub-committee to transmit with the specimens, etc., full and precise information as to the products themselves, their situation, extent, cost, transit, and other incidental charges, without which they would be mere curiosities, and of little value economically; and, in return for these contributions, we may fairly expect to receive from the colonial and other societies to which they may be sent, copies of their own publications, specimens of similar products obtained elsewhere to compare with ours, samples of manufactures from them, and such reports on the commercial and scientific value of the New Zealand specimens, as would be extremely useful to us as their producers. We are, fortunately, able to obtain from the Director of the Geological Survey of New Zealand, very valuable information on the mineralogical and chemical characters of the ores, etc., etc., submitted to him; but frequently it is desirable to get accurate information as to the commercial value of products, and how far they can be made to pay; to obtain which, it is almost absolutely necessary, that they should be submitted for examination and report to those trade experts, who are seldom found except in the great marts of the world. Scattered as is the population of the province, might not we, enlarging on the suggestion of our President in his eloquent inaugural address, establish branch or corresponding societies in some of the country towns? In these branch societies, would probably be prepared and read, papers of a peculiarly practical bearing, on subjects specially interesting in each particular locality, and which would be the more valuable from being discussed on the spot by men possessing the advantages of local knowledge, and minute practical acquaintance with their subjects. I could almost wish, too, that the efforts at present scattered amongst so many public bodies in this province, such as the Agricultural and Pastoral, the Acclimatisation, and the Horticultural Societies, the Committees of the

Museum, and certain public Libraries, and the superintendence of the Botanic Garden, etc., were focussed under the auspices of this Institute, either by association or otherwise. Whatever good the present generally desultory, and often antagonistic efforts, may have produced, a more perfect organisation, oneness of direction, and union of forces, would accomplish vastly more; would add greatly to the usefulness and interest of each and all of the sections, which collectively would then constitute the Otago Institute; and would lead to much more economical working, much greater results, and build up such an institution as would prove of great worth, both to the province and the colony. Mr. Webb with the view of supporting remarks contained in the address by Mr. Eccles regarding the products of the colony, mentioned that native flax was most inadequately represented in the Otago Museum. There were a number of specimens, but they were not described, nor was there anything to instruct people as to the modes of preparation, or regarding the different characters of flax. The question they had to consider was not what could be done here, but comparisons should also be instituted with what could be accomplished elsewhere. Mr. Robert Gillies desired to make a few remarks respecting the Colonial Laboratory. It was, he believed, not generally known that any specimens, not only of minerals, but also of soils, if sent there, were analysed free of charge. When travelling in the province the question had been asked what, if any, charge was made, for analyses; and therefore it was desirable that the fact he had mentioned should be widely ventilated. Farmers, for instance, could get specimens of their soils analysed. Referring to some remarks made by the Chairman as to an amalgamation of societies, he might mention that the President of the Acclimatisation Society, Mr. W. D. Murison, dealt with the same subject in an address which he delivered at a recent meeting of the Acclimatisation Society. Under the circumstances, therefore, he thought there would be no great difficulty in bringing about an amalgamation of the Acclimatisation and other societies with this branch of the New Zealand Institute, and that steps should be taken in that direction. Mr. Robert Gillies read a paper on “Te Puia, a hot spring near the Wangape Lake, in the Waikato District.” (See ante, p. 169.) Mr. Webb, referring to the remark of Mr. Gillies that “Te Puia” served as a barometer to the natives of the neighbourhood, explained the meteorological principles which accounted for this fact. Mr. Henry Skey asked Mr. Gillies as to the sulphurous odours felt on approaching the spring. The water, as analysed (see “Trans. N. Z. Inst.,” Vol. i., p. 71) showed no trace of sulphur. Mr. Gillies said there could be no doubt as to the character of the exhalations met with in the bush on approaching the spring, and suggested that they might arise from sources not directly connected with the spring. With regard to the name “Te Puia,” Mr. J. N. Watt, on being appealed to as a Maori scholar, expressed his belief that it was simply the ordinary native name for any hot spring. In consequence of the lateness of the hour, the reading of a paper “On the Natural History Department of the Otago Museum,” being the first of a series by Mr. J. S. Webb, was deferred. In place of it Mr. Webb read a paper “On the Mechanical Principles involved in the Sailing Flight of the Albatros,” being a criticism upon Captain Hutton's papers on the same subject published in the “Trans. N. Z. Institute,” Vol. i., p. 58, and the “Philosophical Magazine” for August, 1869. (See ante, p. 233.) It was resolved that in future the meetings of the Institute should be fixed for the second Tuesday in the months of September, November, January, March, and May.