party. The observation, that we see most readily that which we expect to see, and are apt to overlook that which we are not beforehand prepared to find, is too old and trite an aphorism not to have long ago secured their assent to it; and none probably would be more glad than themselves if some one who knew nothing of either view could be got to repeat their investigations independently, and decide between them.
Mr. Blair's papers "On the Building Materials of Otago" have won for him from many quarters a praise which I can but echo. They are of extreme interest, and must remain for a long time the standard sources of information on the subject to which they relate. I wish that every man whose official position gives him opportunities of amassing information useful to his fellow-men, would turn them to as good account. It would be presumptuous on my part to offer any remarks on the subject-matter of these papers, since nearly all I know about it I have learnt from Mr. Blair. We all, I am sure, look forward with great interest to the remaining papers of the series. These, as they will treat, amongst other things, of our timbers, will be of the widest value, because, notwithstanding the slight differences which climate may make in the character of some species, the information which Mr. Blair has amassed will be as good for all parts of the colony as for Otago. Since Mr. Balfour made a report on New Zealand timbers for the Commissioners of the New Zealand Exhibition, in 1865, a great deal may have been learnt by individuals as to the comparative and absolute merits of our native woods, but scarcely anything has been published. No one can read that report without coming to the conclusion, that on all those points as to which the results of observation extending over a number of years are required, the information which Mr. Balfour found available was too scanty to admit of any really reliable conclusions being drawn. I trust that a lapse of ten years has provided for Mr. Blair a more ample range of information to supplement and afford comparisons with his own observations.
Another paper of a highly practical character which has been read before you, is Mr. Connell's, "On New Zealand Surveys." Certain circumstances, to which I need not allude, rendered this contribution to our "Transactions" very opportune, but it must not on that account be supposed that it is a paper of ephemeral interest. When published in our annual volume, it will, I have no doubt, be read far beyond the limits of the colony, and I have equally no doubt that it will be found useful to those engaged in survey work under circumstances analogous to those which exist here in all parts of the world. Neither Mr. Thomson nor those who have served under him have any longer need to attempt a defence of the methods they have pursued, since, wherever they have come to be understood, they have been heartily approved. To anyone who has failed to apprehend their character and special adaptability to the circumstances which prevail in most new countries, Mr. Connell's paper affords an exposition which is certainly clear, and should be convincing.
Mr. Skey has, I think, excelled all his former ingenious contrivances and suggestions by the simple and thoroughly sound invention which he described in his paper "On a New Direct Vision Solar Eye-piece." I cannot help repeating about this what has been said of so many good ideas—its great merit is, that it is so simple that we cannot help wondering that no one has discovered it before.
Mr. J. T. Thomson's paper "On the Longitude of Wellington," was evoked by some remarks made by Dr. Hector in a communication read before the Wellington Philosophical Society. For my part, I am very sorry that my good friend should have made those remarks, since they were not needed for his own justification or in explanation of