AUCKLAND INSTITUTE.
First Meeting (held in the Provincial Museum). 4th May, 1868.
F. Whitaker, President, in the chair.
The following contributions were laid upon the table:—A series of photographs of the Atlantic cable machinery—Mr. J. T. Mackelvie, A number of South Sea Island shells—Mr. Vilcocq, of Russell. Part of a porpoise's head—Mr. Mackenzie, of Mongonui. Maori stone axes—Mr. Bell, of Whangaroa; also, by the same gentleman, a piece of the copper of the ship 'Boyd," the crew of which were massacred and eaten there; a piece of manganese ore from Tikiora, Bay of Islands; quartz rock from near Spirits Bay. There was also a specimen of clay which had been burned by a gentleman at the Tamaki, and which was believed to be a near approach to china clay.
Mr. Gillies, the Honorary Secretary, read a note that had been left at the Museum, stating that a number of miners from the Thames had visited the collection, and had been much interested and gratified at examining the minerals there. Mr. Gillies stated that the Council of the Association, immediately upon being formed, wrote to England for various scientific publications, and had received the first of them by last mail. They were then on the table, and would be lent out to be read by members at the close of the meeting. Any not taken out would lie at his office. He had also to mention that they had received a number of New Zealand birds from the south, which illustrated the advantage of being connected with the New Zealand Institute.
The President then read the following
inaugural address.
Gentlemen,—We are met this evening, for the first time, as the members of an Institute, having for its object the promotion of art, science, and literature. We have laid the foundation of a society embracing a very wide field of operations, but as yet we have performed only a small portion of what we have undertaken, and the foundation will be useless if we fail successfully to prosecute the work.
It is obvious that we have taken upon ourselves no light task, if we discharge efficiently but one-half even of the duties which devolve upon us.
