Page:Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute - Volume 1 (2nd ed.).djvu/495

Rh an essential service might be rendered with great advantage to the community, also to a large body of men engaged in a laborious and hazardous pursuit. Much may, I am sure, be done by union. Co-operation in the present day is the great engine of progress. We see it made subservient to every variety of purpose. Man standing alone is but weak, but union gives a power which may almost be said to be irresistible. Co-operation not only concentrates means which are all but useless when dispersed; it does more, it becomes creative, and gives life and development to new powers. The mere conflict of thought and opinion produces results not previously contemplated.

I regard it as one of the most important advantages to arise from this Institute, that it may be made the means of bringing men together, not alone for their own amusement, but to work for the common good; and, proceeding a step further, that it may be the means also of interchanging opinions and information between the most distant parts of the colony. In our constitution and rules we have undertaken, as the object of this Institute, the promotion of art, science, and literature, and we have at the same time provided ample means by which that object is to be attained. We purpose the establishment of a museum and a library, and, I trust, if the institution is sufficiently supported, that we shall be able to add a laboratory. Lectures, periodical meetings, the reading of original papers, and conversations and discussions, are all designed to the same end.

I need not point out how useful in days gone by would have been a library such as that now contemplated, and of what essential service would have been a museum well stored with specimens. I feel a conviction that one of the greatest benefits that could be conferred on a newly established settlement, in a country but little known, would be to provide for it a library well supplied with books on the arts and sciences, and a well and judiciously filled museum.

It may be regretted that what we are now doing has not been done before, and it is a reasonable matter for regret; but this affords an additional argument why no further delay should take place. We have now made a commencement under more than ordinarily favourable circumstances, and if failure should ensue, it will be from want of energy and well-directed efforts on our parts. On the one hand we must not be too sanguine or confident, and on the other not too readily depressed by difficulties or discouraged by slowness of progress. We should bear in mind that some years ago, at Wellington, an institution of a similar character to that now established enjoyed but a short and, apparently, not very successful life. The failure, no doubt, resulted from want of activity and energy in the management, and adequate support from the people. That institution