Page:Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute - Volume 1 (2nd ed.).djvu/15



New Zealand Institute was opened by a conversazione at the Colonial Museum on the evening of 4th August, 1868, when many members of various local societies for the promotion of Art and Science assembled to listen to the Inaugural Address of His Excellency the Governor.

In a few prefatory remarks His Excellency referred to the presence of so many members of the legislature, while an important debate was in progress in the House of Representatives, as a proof that the attractions of intellect and science could even triumph over the excitement of politics.

His Excellency's address. (Vide post.)

Mr. Fox, M.H.R., rose at the conclusion of the address. He did so, he said, with diffidence, and would much rather that some gentleman more accustomed to academic and scientific subjects had been selected to perform the pleasing task which he had consented to discharge. He was glad, although it took him somewhat by surprise, to behold such an assemblage as he now saw filling that place. Such an assemblage for such a purpose would have been impossible in the early days, though even then there was a William Swainson, and other men of his stamp. They made attempts to do something more than simply to colonize these islands; but there was no union for the prosecution of scientific pursuits. Science in those dark and distant days had no voice, and the finer arts were a dead letter. Thus, shortly after his return from Europe, he was gratified beyond measure to be one of such an assemblage, presided over by His Excellency the Governor. Glad he was on returning from the old countries, and from travelling in remote parts of Europe and Asia, where he had seen evidences of the rapid strides which modern science and enterprise had made in some of the Old World's formerly most benighted places,—where he had seen the telegraph wires crossing wastes and deserts, the iron horse in his mighty strength, and the Archimedean screw upon Old Nilus. Everywhere the mighty 1