THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1997, 29 September 1869, Page 2

THE OTAGO INSTITUTE.

(To the Editor of the Eveninq Star.) Sir— Upon reading your remarks subjoined to my last letter, another question occurred to me which I had previously overlooked. How was it that this particular letter was held over till the resolution about incorporation had first been disposed of ? Why was it not read when the other communications were officially announced ? The reason, I believe, was simply that the meditated gift was to be considered as a conditional one, dependent upon the favorable termination of the incorporation discussion. If this be the fact, it is a most significant one, and clearly implies what, if expressed iu as many words, would run as follows, viz. :—“Not only, not as a province shall you possess your dearly purchased information respecting the ‘geology of Otago,’ nor even as a provincial Institute shall your members be permitted to revel in the luxury of learning all that ‘is actually known of the geology of the Province,’ but first decide favorably a question of incorporation, to become indeed with us ‘one body corporate and politic,” and thus place yourselves entirely under our control and governance, and then behold your reward!” Looking at the matter from this point of view, I think the transaction must appear to yourself and readers even sti 1 more “ cool” than as last presented.—Yours, &c., Audi alteram partem, Dunedin, Sept., 2Sth, 1860.