Auckland Institute.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 24, 1891, Unnumbered Page

Auckland Institute. First Meeting: 8th June, 1891. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Members.—T. Allen, E. S. Brookes, jun., Rev. H. S. Davies, W. G. Rathbone, T. O. Williams, M.D.

Abstract. The President began by regretting his want of literary genius—that singular gift which enabled some men to invest the most trivial thought with human interest, and to lend to the most unpromising subject the charm which in ordinary hands it would never even remotely suggest. Lacking as he did that divine endowment, he considered it best to make no pretence about the matter, but to proceed to deal in an ordinary and commonplace manner with their every-day existence as an Institute. After referring to the foundation of the Institute, and the importance of forming, as they had been doing, a scientific reference library, he went on to speak of the meetings held by the society, which, he said, had often been to him a source of reflection. Members frequently said that they did not attend these meetings because they were much too dull for them; and this, to his mind, was the expression of a profound truth. Their meetings were dull, very dull, and he feared they could not avoid the dullness and so remove the reproach. In the first place, the practice of holding meetings of scientific societies for the purpose of reading papers was one for which there was no justification but that of precedent. As in many other cases, the object for which the practice was initiated had become, owing to changed circumstances, of no value, and yet scientific societies had continued it till the present day. In ancient times the only method of publication which authors could adopt was to assemble their fellow-citizens and recite to them their new productions, and in the Middle Ages most new literature was conveyed by word of mouth—poems were made public by the agency of minstrels and troubadours; but now an immense amount of knowledge was placed, in the form of books and newspapers, at the disposal even of the most remote country resident. Even at the time of the Restoration books were comparatively scarce; and, as it was at this time that the first of the now existing scientific societies, the Royal Society, was formed, there was nothing more natural than that it should be considered one of their first duties to meet together and make known the result of their labours. Other societies, afterwards formed, followed the precedent, and thus the practice of reading papers had arisen. But in these days of cheap printing, when newspapers, magazines, and books were circulated in enormous numbers, the old methods of making known the works of poets and authors had fallen altogether into disuse, and the question then arose why scientific papers should be treated in a different manner. He could not see that the writers of papers derived any advantage from the reading of them—the desired publication could be obtained without that; and, as to the hearers, those who were interested in the subjects would probably prefer to read the papers quietly at home. In this connection he urged that the interval between the reading of papers and their publication

was too long, and that one of the most useful reforms they could initiate would be the publication of a quarterly instead of an annual volume. The best argument in favour of reading the papers was that it gave an opportunity of discussing the subject; but discussion was frequently impossible because of the thing brought forward being a statement of fact, and, when possible, was often avoided on the ground of personal courtesy. They did not like to express publicly the opinion that their next-door neighbour was a person whose judgment was always wrong, and whose reasoning was invariably at fault. On the whole, he was afraid they had no alternative in regard to their meetings; they would have to admit the reproach, and continue to be somewhat dull. They might, however, derive satisfaction from the thought that the reading of scientific papers was by no means the chief object of their existence, since they maintained an important public museum. He then dealt with the great value of the Museum to the city, laying particular stress on the importance of extending the popular branch of the collections, and of arranging and displaying them in the most interesting, instructive, and attractive manner possible. All this required space, and space could only be obtained by subdividing the collections, and placing a large portion of them in another building. What was, in his opinion, absolutely necessary, if they were to make any further advance, was the erection of an additional hall in which they could place their ethnological collections, and especially their specimens of Maori workmanship. While speaking of these Maori collections he parenthetically mentioned the magnificent collection deposited by Captain Gilbert Mair, and took the opportunity of tendering to that gentleman the thanks of the Institute and of the community. The President then went on to argue that no grand, ornamental, permanent edifice was required, but one in which attention was paid to the necessity for elasticity in the accommodation, for facility of modification, so that additions and rearrangements could be effected without restriction. His experience with the University College had impressed him with the superiority of temporary buildings for young and growing institutions, because the expenditure of small sums from time to time had resulted in the gradual adaptation of means to ends. Of course it was absolutely necessary, in order that their collections might be preserved, that the structure should be strong and fireproof. He found, on the authority of his friend Mr. Bartley, that a building 103ft. long and 50ft. wide could be erected on that particular site for £610. The cost of fitting it up would be about £400, and the rearrangement of the exhibits now in the Museum would take about £200 more. This would be £1,200 in all, a sum well within their means. They had recently received by a sale of a block of land on the Coromandel Peninsula a sum of £1,000, with an agreement to pay two other thousands at intervals of a year. This sum they did not actually need for the maintenance of the Museum, as last year they had not only paid all ordinary fixed expenses, but had spent £50 in providing cases and otherwise improving the interior of the building. Thus they were well able to afford the cost of a modest but substantial building, and he trusted that ere long they would be able to place before the public such a well-ordered and complete collection of Maori workmanship as befitted Auckland, as befitted a city the history of which was so intermingled with that of the natives. On the motion of Dr. Bakewell, seconded by the Rev. Dr. Purchas, a vote of thanks was accorded the President for his address, several gentlemen expressing approval of his suggestions relative to the erection of a new building. The President acknowledged the compliment, and said the question of erecting the building he had spoken of would no doubt be fully considered by the Council.

Second Meeting: 22nd June, 1891. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Members.—E. Craig, C. Malfroy, P. Sylow. Papers.—1. “On the Prospects of finding Workable Coal on the Shores of the Waitemata,” by James Park, F.G.S. (Transactions, p. 380.) 2. “On Geyser-action at Rotorua,” by Camille Malfroy, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. (Transactions, p. 579.) This paper was illustrated by a series of maps, diagrams, and photographs, specially prepared and exhibited (by limelight) by Mr. Josiah Martin, Vice-president. The President complimented Mr. Malfroy upon the excellent paper which he had prepared. He thought that the views advanced were in entire harmony with the facts observed. He considered that the Government of the colony should be congratulated upon having such an excellent observer as Mr. Malfroy in a position of such importance. Third Meeting: 20th July, 1891. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Member.—H. C. Choyce.

Fourth Meeting: 10th August, 1891. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. Mr. E. Withy gave a popular lecture, illustrated by diagrams and models, on “The Stability of Ships: its Principles made clear by Models and Diagrams.” (Transactions, p. 653.) At the conclusion of the lecture a vote of thanks was moved by the Mayor (Mr. J. H. Upton), and carried by acclamation. Fifth Meeting: 24th August, 1891. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Members.—J. Mitchell, C.E., Professor Pond.

Sixth Meeting: 14th September, 1891. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. Mr. James Stewart, C.E., gave a popular lecture on “The Rotorua Railway and District.” (Transactions, p. 591.) The lecture was illustrated with numerous lantern views. Seventh Meeting: 19th October, 1891. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair.

Eighth Meeting: 2nd November, 1891. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Member.—J. Kirker.

Annual General Meeting: 22nd February, 1892. J. Martin, F.G.S., Vice-president, in the chair.