THE Evening Star. MONDAY, JULY 5, 1869.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1923, 5 July 1869, Page 2

THE Evening Star. MONDAY, JULY 5, 1869.

There is no necessity now-a-days to ■dwell upon tlie advantages of science. If scientific attainments ai'e rare, their Value is universally acknowledged. Tho crude notions that only a few years back prevailed, of the superiority ‘of the practical over the theoretical, are fast passing away; and with the spread of sound information on the subject, it is at length acknowledged that practice may be more surely guided and directed by the inductions of knowledge than by empiricism. It is therefore with great pleasure that we witnessed on Saturday, the interest evinced in the formation of a “ Society of Art and Science.” The two terms may be said to embrace the whole range of human practice and- knowledge. Every craft, however mechanically

cunning, involves in its prosecution some scientific principle. Science investigates its operations, weighs them by fixed and definite laws, and shows why they succeed in attaining the desired end, or how they might be improved. Art tells how, science states why, processes succeed. All thanks, therefore, to the originators of _ the movement to form such a society. Co-operation is a mighty engine in scientific discovery. There is so much to be learnt, and human life is so short, that we must record our doings in order to leave behind us a platform from which those who follow us can start in their investigations ; or things already known would have to be re-discovered, and the next generation would advance no further than we have done. The world would be no wiser for our having lived in it. This would be by no means a pleasant reflection. It is not given to every man to be great. He may never be able to give to the world one single thought destined to live beyond the present hour; but there are few who are unable to co-operate with others whoso organisation renders them better able to deal intelligently with the facts and mysteries by which they are surrounded. By joining such an association, every member aids in the discovery of truth. There is much in the country new and strange to the colonists and to the world. Simultaneous observation made throughout the Colony tends to accurate and rapid knowledge of the best means of rendering available the vast resources by which we are surrounded. Mr Whitaker, in his inaugural address at the formation of the Auckland Institute, pointedly says ;—“ But of how far more import- “ ance than mere amusement are the “ advantages which ensue from the “ steady pursuit of scientific know- “ ledge! There is not an occupation “ in life which cannot be assisted by “ science ; and in a newly-settled “ country like Hew Zealand there are “ especially some sciences, the know- “ ledge of which would have pointed “ out the way to fortunes, or saved “ from ruin many who have passed “ away, or are still amongst us.” It is quite possible that few of those who met the promoters of the movement for the formation of a Society of Art and Science on Saturday, were aware of what has been done by the Legislature of New Zealand for the encouragement of such associations. Dim, uncertain reports may have reached them, and even to some it may be news to learn that in 1867 the General Assembly passed an Act for establishing the Corporation of the New Zealand Institute, and providing for incorporation with it branch associations formed in different parts of the Colony, under certain conditions. The fact that when Mr Webb was asked at the Athenaeum what advantages would be derivable from incorporation with the parent Society, he could not enumerate more than printing approved papers at a cheap rate, shews that notwithstanding the interest he has taken in the movement, he has not satified himself in every detail. So thoroughly convinced are we of the desirability of union in one association of all lovers of science throughout the Colony, that we should be sorry if through any mistake or unfounded jealousy such a happy result was prevented. But the letter of Mr Smith which we publish in another part of the paper raises points worthy of consideration. If the printing of records were the only object desirable, no doubt Dunedin could very easily do its own work, even better than it is now done, if we may judge from the following remarks of the Editor of the first volume of “ Transactions and proceedings of the New Zealand “Institute.” He says “The Gover- “ uors regret that two very learned “ and important papers, both by Cap- “ tain Hutton, viz., ‘ On Sinking “ ‘ Funds ’ and ‘ Flight of Birds/ “ could not be printed, owing to the “ impossibility of procuring in Welling- “ ton the type for the algebraic for- “ mula which they contain.” And again, “ It is necessary also to explain, “ that owing to the difficulties of com- “ municating in time, _ only those “ authors who resided in the neigh- “ bourhood of Wellington could _ be “ furnished with proofs for revision, “ but every opportunity was afforded “ to make corrections consistent with “ the due progress of the work through “ the press.” So much for typographical advantages. It may give a clearer notion of the scope and intention of the New Zealand Institute, if we reprint the summary of what has been done by the General Assembly as detailed by Mr Whitaker in his inaugural address to the members of the Auckland Institute, May Bth, 1868. He said ; - The New Zealand Legislature in its last session passed a statute for the establishment of an “ Institute for the advancement of Science and Art in New Z' aland,” and conferred on it together with the Societies to be incorporated with it, the privileges of a bo ly corporate. The Act, in the firvt place, provides for the appointment of a fit and proper person to superintend and carry out the geological survey of the colony, and also to superintend tho formation, establishment, nnd management of a public museum and

laboratory.” This refers to the parent society (if I may so call it) domiciled at Wellington ; but the services of this gentleman (the Act does : ot give hj m an official name) .irea'so to be available “ to supori .ten I the fo niation and establishment of any mus-um and laboratory in'ended to be established by any society incorporated with, the parent institution.

For the management of this Institute there is to be a Board of Covcrnors, in the first instance nominsted. but aftcrAVards, partly to bo nomi atvd, uni partly to be elected. Their p wers are defined, provision made for their meetings, and for the enactment of rules by the Go\’ornor iu Council, for the management and regulation of the Institute. Such is the general character of the provisions of the Nbav Zealand Institute Act. iI ow far it will satisfactorily answer the 2 nir P OSCS h>r which intended remains yet to be seen. Experience is necessary to settle that question ; but I must say that 1 very much fear that some of the provisions Avill be found cumbersome, and difficult to Avork satisfactorily. We cannot but be struck with the similarity of the scheme for the goA'crnment of the science to that for the political government of the Colony. The General and Provincial Governments appear to have afforded models for, and to be reproduced in the Hew Zealand Institute, and those Institutions, when established in the Provinces, to be incorporated Avith it. The Auckland Institute has been successfully formed, and now numbers nearly eighty members. It has not yet been associated Avith the New Zealand Institute. It is competent for us iioav to effect this association, or not, as may be thought desirable. We have complied Avith all the preliminary conditions that have been prescribed. If we prefer a separate and independent existence, there is nothing to pre\-ent our taking that course ; but, for my part. I think there are sufficient advantages to be deiiv-ed from association to lead ns in that direction.”

The Auckland Institute decided upon the course suggested, and united Avith the New Zealand Institute.