ment Domain of Auckland is indebted for the tasteful development of the natural beauties for which it is so justly celebrated. It would ill become me in addressing, as President, the Society of which he was the actual suggester and founder, to conclude without reference to my distinguished predecessor Sir George Grey. It was at his suggestion, and with every encouragement and assistance from him, that eight gentlemen in this city undertook and successfully achieved the formation of the New Zealand Society,—the parent, I may almost call it, of the New Zealand Institute. During the whole of his New Zealand career, Sir George Grey lost no opportunity of encouraging the pursuit of science; and, should he ever return to the colony, I feel certain that he would be again found in the foremost ranks of those who labour to promote intellectual activity among the colonists. I cannot forget the pleasant manner in which, when as Secretary I announced to him his election as President of the New Zealand Society, he said in his quizzical way, “I am glad they have made the Presidency elective, for now I may hope some day to see you elected.” I must own that in those days I did not very confidently foresee that such an honour would be conferred upon me. Now, however, I may retort, and express a sincere hope that should Sir George return, I may see him re-elected. I had purposed before closing my address, to call your attention to the great benefits, moral and intellectual, which accrued to those who gave their leisure to the pursuit of science. With this object, I had carefully collected opinions of authors of the greatest weight, and enlivened my lucubrations with, here and there, a quotation from authors sacred and profane, classical and non-classical, practical or prosy, in support of my thesis. But happening at last to glance at a slight work by one of the most eminent statesmen of our day, I found there epitomized in a paragraph all of value in my more lengthy labours; therefore, desirous above all things that you, especially the younger of you, should remember what I had to say on this subject, and bearing in mind that “to speak little commands the memory,” I resolved without a regret to cast aside my own prolixities, and strive to impress upon you the simple words of the statesman. It is Sir Robert Peel who speaks :—“Heed not the sneers and foolish sarcasms against learning of those who are unwilling that you should rise above the level of their own contented ignorance. Do not for a moment imagine that you have not time for acquiring knowledge; it is only the idle man who wants time for everything. The industrious man knows the inestimable value of the economy of time, and amidst the