N.Z. INSTITUTE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 7

N.Z. INSTITUTE.

ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE. THE LACK OF FUNDS. CRITICISM OP THE MUSEUM. Hβ annual meeting of tha Board of Bovcrnors of tho New Zealand Institute »'os hold yesterday in a committee room ir. Parliament Buildings. , There, were present Professor Oliarles Chiltori, D.Sc. (president) ;.Dn Allan Thomson, Professor Von Zedlitzj and Mr: 0. A. Ewen (appointed by .tho Government); Professor Easterfiold and Professor Kirk £ Wellington Philosophical Society); Dr. . Petrio and. Mr. J. Stewart, C.E. (Auckland Institute): Professor 0. Coleridge Farr and MrV Speight (Philosophical Institute of Canterbury); Professor Marshall and Mr, 6. M, Thdmsoh, M.P. (Otago Institute) ; Mr.. H. ilill (Haivkc's Bay Philosophical Institute); Dr. h. Cockayno (Nelson Institute);. Mr. K, Wilson (Manatvatii Philosophical Society) ; Dr. Hatherly (Wangamri Philosophical Sooiety) j MV< B. 0. Asteri (aooTetery).. Apologies: for absence wore received from the Hon. H. D. Bell and Mr. A. H. Turnbull.

PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. ADDITIONAL. SUBSIDY BEQUIRED. The president delivered a fairly.long address, from which tho following are extract's:— ■■• •■ .• " .' ,• "It is evident that, if the ordinary expanses of this board and the printing.of our publications are to be limited to what can bb done with the yearly grant of £600,' tho usofjlnoas; of tli6 institute will be very greatly haniperod, and that it will be unable to take that large and increasing sha,re M~ promoting scienco that we all wish io eeo it perform. The claim .that has .been made for an increase in the statutory annual grant is therefore fully justified, and if wo coneidor tho conditions of tho country and of the institute' When the grant was fixed at £500 forty-five years ago, and compare them with tho present, it will be seen that if the grant were doubled it would only be bringing it into reasonable relation to'the requirements of the institute for the immediate future, arid that; the whole of it could bet used with great advantage. Personally, however, I sm-.of opinion that the institute will never.bo able to take that.independent position that is absolutely essential for the real success of a purely scientific society so long as wo aro entirely dependent on a Government grant, and I look forward to tho timd.whoft wo shall be freed from ihafc dependence by tho receipt of funds.from other sources. Other. learned societies usually have considerable sums donated or bequeathed to them, cither for general purposes or for some special research or' investigation. ThoNctf Zealand Institute has hitherto received very little in this way. "We havo the Carter Bequest far a special purpose for which wo liavo so far 'been unable to make proper provision,' and wo have the Hector and Hutton'Funds raised by contributions from our members aided by Government subsidies, and those fuiids are performing tho useful funotion of porpetuating tho memory of those- in wJioso honour they were. ostablisKed, arid lii stimulating research in New Zealand science. But when the needsof the institute/ and the facilities it possesses for promoting tho welfare of^ejcquijta^bx-^.rgeearches. of ils,.■mewborss-aroj,kn<)'.t , n,.:.j. ; is 1 much to hope that" we 'shall'receive many other itontributions from private' liberality? -'.In this oountrjy ,&o blessed, with, natural advantages that make for pros-! perity; and whero so much is spent on eport and. pleasure, on motor-cars, racehorses,'and,golf, surely to -jo. ciblo to count upon subscriptions , from this.source equal to at least the cost of orio- motor-car por year? Many of our citizens have made most generous gifts for "the support of educational and feliondus institutions, for art galleries and libraries, anil it'is with sincere pleasure and gratitudo that I refer to the great assistance given to tho Nelson- Institute by Mr. Cawtnron and to his munificent gift for tho establishment of an Astronomical Observatory at Nelson. So far as lam aware, this is tho. first groat gift in-New , Zealand for the promotion of pore science, and it sots art example worthy of imitation by others.

flip Museum. "There is a still more important subject that: I must speak about. Tho unsatisfactory housing of the valuable specimens and the Institute Library in the Dominion Museum has been drawn attention to • tim 6' after time by th'o Director and by others, and' my predecessor in tins office, Mi. T. dT. Cheeseman, iVi his address last yeary speaking of tho library, declared that the condition of affairs was a disgrace both to tho Government and; to the institute. I feel it my duty , as the president of this institute, to repeat that statement in ■ the most emphatic manner possible.' Tho Museum contains a vast collection of valuable specimens of Maori, Art and workmanship, of geological and 'zoological specimens, including the very largo and valuable collections of insects gathered with so much energy and judgment by tho late Director, and it contains the very valuable library of the institute. Tho {rroal majority of these are' quite implacable, find .vet they are still housed in a.wcodon building that is almost falling to pieces' through ago, and the greater part of which has,been declared to he , insanit-ary-for human beings. And yet, despite the repeated appeals, little or nothing has been done to remedy this statoof affairs! It-is true that' a Science and Art Act was passed at Isst session of Parliament, setting up a board for tho control of tho Dominion Mufisiim, but a Parliamentary Act is not an efficient fire preventive, nor has it any inherent powpr of preventing tho effects' of damp and mould in a-wooden building that lots in the rain ai all places; and. many of tho specimens, collected at tho expense r.f the lifo Wood of Sir James' Hector cud of Mr. Hamilton, are rapidly being ruined, whilo the whole collection might bo destroyed by fire in a eingle night—to tlio eternal disgrace of New Zealand. "Whoso fault is it? It is no eood our blaming the. Government. Ministers como and Ministers go, and they have many, things to- think of that appear to them moro important than tho proper housing of a unique and priceless series of scientific specimens, but this institute has a continuous oxistenco as tho emhodimont of the scientific opinion of Now Zealand, and knows what, requires to be done, and I am afraid; that .wo have 'not mnde our influence in this matter felt in tho wav, that we ?ho\il_d hflvo 'done. Tho methods tf,tho agitator who manoeuvres the. newspapers fnr this tttrtictilar purpose aro extremely distasteful to me, but unless some radical improvement is very soon made, it BW>ma to mo that it will bo the duty of this institute to take ndvantajio of ovorv mean.' of nrinrrirttj tliis otato of affairs prominently before the people of New Zealand, and to continue to aejtnio on the matter until tho Museum rollw--ttons are housed in a permanent buildinfr as fire-proof as it is jossiblo to make it.

Our Own Storehouse. "But we have- a still larger nnd more Important museum entrusted to our care—the zoology, botany, and geology of New Zealand, with its specimens of anoient typos, not only found nowhere else in tho world, but in so many cases connecting our present plants and animals with those that lived on the earth in former geological ages, and that have become extinct everywhere else. Our botanists have repeatedly

pdinfed out that the flora of New Zealand presents in a comparatively small spaco all tho types of vegotation to bo found in the world. It contains many plants found only in , particular localities in Now Zealand, and of extreme interest, and many also of great economic Value;. the samo thing is truo of our animals. Everyone . knows of our tuatara, which a late distinguished zoologist onco described as the animal most important zoologically on the fnco of tho earth, but among the smaller animals there are many typos almost as extraordinary, and as well deserving of full and careful study. It is truo that a Rood deal has been done in the work of investigating some of these, but tho subject hns only been touched on tho surface, and there is much that has not yet been attempted at all. Our first duty, however, is to see that these objects are, so far as possible, preserved, so that they may be n'orked out by our successors, if not by ourselves. Mcanwhilo our forests are being dostroyed at an, alarmingly rapid rate, and often for most insufficient reasons, and with them are.destroyed also tho insects and other aiiirnals that •'live ill the bush ; very maiiy of these have not yet been collected or investigated, and they are rapidly- becoming extinct. In some notes for a lecture, fouhd among a fow papers left'by tho late Captain Hutton, arid entrusted to me, there, is a pathetio referenco to this matter, in which- he' gives expression to his grief at the small amount of work that'it has been possiblo to do at the entomology of New Zealand; and I can sharo in hi 3 grief while at the samo timo' recognising with gratitude what has been done by Captain Hutton himself, Mr. G. V. Hudson, and other workers.

Suggested Activities. "If this institute is to take its proper share in the scientific work of New Zealand, its first and most urgent duty> it seems to me, is to secure the preservation of all objeots of seientifio importance in No# Zealand that, aro liable to be destroyed. Tho .memorials of tho Maori raco I havo already referred to, but wo have also to protest against tho unnecessary destruction of our forests, and to see that sufficient is preserved; untouched oil all hill-tops and in valleys and other places whero A is possible to preserve it. without interfering with the advance or settlement, and that specimens of all plants and animals likely to become extinct are collected and proporly and-''permanently preserved. ]f wo are to .'dp this and to perform satisfactorily the other duties of a scientific society, ive must act more energetically than we'have sometimes do'no in the past, and act so that this institute may become what it should powerful and independent expression of scientific opinion iii New Zealand, and the authority to which all would turn who require information or advice on 6cientifio matters. That position Wo have not yet attained. Acts dealing with soiefttifio matters are passed by Parliament, regulations regarding fisheries or Beating are gazetted, scientific appointments are made by the Government, by University Cblldges and otherai Koyal.Commissions dealing' with scientific* questions are set up 1 , and scientific works are published at public expense without' the opinion of this institute being sought or obtained. Surely we have tho knowledge, the ability, and the courage to give a .valuable and independent opinion on matters of this kind, and it is our duty, eo to promote the true interests of the institute, and to make it such an important b6dy that its advice will njtturally be sought by all who require it on .those fnatfcefS, and be an indisponsablo , preJiminary to action."

To Strengthen _F[nances. - ■ '. Tho reports mid ■adopted. - 1 ■ •••-•••. The need for additional financial as-eistance-from -the Government for the institute. #as A motion was finally agreed to authorising Mr. G. M. Thoinson, M.P., to interview the Minister and to impre3s upon the Government the necessity of increasing the annual grant from "£SOO to £1000 n year. A motion by Mr. Kill that the Government should sot aside nn endowment of land jjiet with some opposition on the grouira thnt it was extremely improbable that tho Government would grant any land of considerable value in addition to an increase of the subsidy by £500. Mr. Hill withdrew his motion. Aα one means of obtaining extra revenue, Mr. Ewen moved that in accordance with the rules of tho institute tho affiliated local societies should be required to contribute at t!ie Tate of 2s. 6d. per copy for the annual publication of tho institute supplied to members. This, it was pointed cut, would raise about £250. . An amendment, moved by Professor Marshnll, to tho effect thnt tho matter bo referred U tV affiliated local societies, was agreed to by 9 votes to 5.

Memorial Medals. The fallowing report was' submitted by tho committee appointed to make a recommendation regarding tho award of the Hutto'n Memorial Medal for 1914 :—■ "Wo hare carefully considered tho regulations .for tho Hutton Memorial Medal of tho New Zealand Institute, and as far as possible the work of those scientific men who appear ta be eligible for the honour: The task of making a recommendation is' not easy, for wo think that tho work of at least three men is of a sufficiently high standard. Wo bog to recommend the name of Dr. Leonard Cockayne, F.R.S., who has dona admirable work in the domain of the ecology of Now Zealand plants, for tho modal' for the present year." The recommendation was adopted. The president tendered to Dr. Cockayne the congratulations of tho institute, and Dr. Cockayne acknowledged them. ■ Grants were mado from the Hutton Fund, oil applications received, to Mr. T. Hall, of Methven (£2O), and to Dr. Hilgondorf, of Lincoln College (£10) for assistance in tho carrying out of specified research,

Mr. Speight remarked that applications for aid from the fund were very few. Ho riiovcd that tho institute set Tip a committee which should mako recommendations regarding grants to certain approved individuals for the carrying out of researches to bo defined by tho committee. Professor Easterfield 'thought that the fact that there were fen- applications for grants from tho fund was explainable on the assumption that vory few scientific workers know of tho existence of it. Ho moved an amendment to the effect that tho local societies b.e circularised and asked to remind ' their members that funds were availablo for research work. . Eventually Professor Easterfiold withdrew liis amendment, to move it later as a separate motion. Mr. Speight's motion was then carried by eevfn votes to five, and Professor. Eastnrfiold's motion was agreed to on the voices. The committee instructed to recommend an award of tho Hector Memorial Medal for 1914 for work in the field of ethnologv recommended that the medal bo awarded to Mr. Elsdon Best, of tho Dominion Museum. Tho recommendation was adopted.

Other Qusiness. It was resolved that tho Publication Committee, with the Honorary Treasurer, bo instructed to consider at tho noxb meeting the possibility of publishing the Transactions more than once a year. Mr. G. M. Thomson moved, and it was agroed, that tho Publications Committeo bo • instructed to consider thb advisability of again publishing tho proceedings of ,tho institute. Correspondence- was read relating to the destruction of fur seals. Tho Minister of Marino wrote to tho effect that very careful investigation as to tho effect it had Kad upon the seals would bo made before an open season would be declared next year. Dr. fJockayno 4aid that the parties of sealers in search of slcin3 had not gone, to the Southern Islands, except that

one party had gone to the Snares and iirothor to tho Solandors. They had killed very nearly all tho seals along our own coast. They had killed them along the const of the National Park, wlioro it was not lawful to destroy any animal, and they had killed them on the coast of Stewart Island. Of course, tho argument was that the seals would bo poached in any case, but tho fact was that far niore of them wore taken when tlio law allowed parties to go along the coast killing them wholesale. The matter of making a further protest against tho destruction of eeals was left to the jStam'im;. Committee. Tho question, raised by Mr. Hill, of tho desirability of taking some steps to preserve the Cannef rookery at Cape Kidnappors was also referred to tlio Standing Committee. A' resolution was also carried approving of the Plumage Bill now before tho British Parliament, and expressing tho desirability of such a Bill boirg ttiado law here.

Dr. L. Cockayno moved that tho institute approved the proposal that the\ Tcngiriro National Park should h> extended. At present it was a. park without a tree. It consisted entirely of Mountain tops, abovo tho forest line, tt could bo oxtdnded by the addition to it of an area of forosi, which forest was Of no commercial value, This' resolution was carried. It was resolved. On tho motion 61 tlni president, that tho institute apprOvo of tho stops taken by the Wellington Philosophical Society to p.Ksoivo tho memory of flie late Mr. iiijiv.stus Hamilton by- sonle testimonial, ami cordially commend tho proposal to the members of the institute.

Tlio following honorary rnembers wore elected:—Professor W. A. Haswell, D.56., F;R.'S. (Sydney), Professor E. A. N Arbor, M.A., D.Sc, F.ft.S. (CHmbridgel. and Professor J. Bayley Balfpur, P.R.S. , i . ■ ■

Election of Officers. The following officers were elected :— President, Professor C. Chilton; treasurer, Mr. C. A. Ewen; editor, Professor Ciiilton; librarian, Dr. Allan Thomson; Publication Committee, Dr. Chilton, Mr. Speight, Dr. Farr, and Dr. Benham; secrotary, Mr; B. C. Aston; committee to make recommendations re grants Of Hiitton Fund, Dr. Ciiilton, Sir Marshall, and Dr. Cockayne. Votes of thanks were accorded to officers who had acted during the past year. . .