Anniversary Address

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 25, 1892, Unnumbered Page

The President delivered the anniversary address. He said that on the two previous occasions when the members had honoured him by placing him in the responsible position of President he had thought it his duty to say something respecting the enlargement of the Museum and its position generally. But now that an important addition to the building was nearly completed, it was no longer necessary to say anything on that subject, except in the way of congratulating the members on the improved prospects of both Museum and Institute. He then drew attention to a letter recently received from the Minister of Lands, intimating that, in response to the representations of the Institute, the Government would endeavour to purchase the Little Barrier Island as a preserve for native birds. The satisfaction he derived from that letter, however, was to a certain extent diminished by the knowledge that at the present time the timber growing on the island was being rapidly cut down, and the birds destroyed; so that, unless the action taken by the Government was speedy, it would not be of much avail. After these preliminary remarks he went on to speak of those recent discoveries respecting the nature and constitution of ether which render it probable that photographs may be taken in colours, and electrical signals made without the aid of wires, illustrating his remarks with diagrams and specially - constructed apparatus. Mr. Peacock proposed a vote of thanks to Professor Brown for his able address. He had succeeded in interesting all present in the subject he had selected, and his lucid and thorough explanations of many obscure points were specially valuable. The motion was seconded by Dr. Purchas, and carried unanimously.