The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-08-20
THE POLYNESIAN SOCIETY.

ed q package OF circulars containing
the prospectus of an organization to
be known us "The Polynesian So
ciety." The circular is signed byS.
Percy Smith, and dated al, Tina
kori Road, Wellington, n. L., June
10Th, 1891" The term "polyne-
sian," it is stated. "has been adopt
ed with an extended meaning so as
to embrace Australia, New Zealand,
Chatham Islands, Poly nesia proper,
Melanesia, Micronesia, Malaysia,
and Papus, and their native races"
The object is "to afford a means of
co nmunication, cooperation and
mutual criticism between those in
terested in, or studying PoIynesian
anthropology, ethnology, philology,
history, manners and customs of the
Oceanic races, and the preservation
of all that relates to such subjects in
permanent form" AS the men,
bers will, it is hoped, be widely scat
tered throughout all the territory
embraced in the scheme, it is deem
ed impracticable at present for mem
bers to meet for the reading and dis
cussion of papers. Ii is therefore
proposed in the meantime to afford
the means of communication by the
publication of periodical, to be
called the "Journal of the Polyne-
sian Society,"" which it is hoped will
he of greater value to members than
the amount of their subscriptions.
1t is proposed that at first the
headquarters of the society shall be
at Wellington, New Zealand, and
afterward at any other center of pop
ulation within the territory as may
be decided by the members. If so
determined, such center might be
changed each year. There should
be President and Council appointed
each year, to be generally composed
of members whose residence is in the
center selected for the publication of
the Journal, and part of whose duties
would be to edit and publish the
same. 1t is believed that 250 mem
bers, each subscribing 20s. s. a
year, will suffice to start the society
and carry on the publications. The
foregoing is synopsis Of the general
scope of the scheme. Further par
ticulurs are to.be found in the circu-
lar, of which those feeling an interest
in the matter can have copies from
Prof. Alexander. Local scientists
in the line in question would doubt
less, if asked, cast their votes unani-
mously for Prof. Alexander to be
the local representative of such
society as that proposed. His we'll
known erudition in Polynesian mat
ters in general and Hawaiian in par
ticular, Joined with broad scientific
knowledge and rare literary ability
in making the seemingly abstruse
and dry appear clear and interesting,
should mark him as the most availa-
bic man to be the corresponding
member in these islands of the So
ciety.
The closing remarks of the pro-
iector in his circular are a forcible
argument for the Importance of the
scheme, and from them the following
extract is made: ITO those who are
really interested in the Oceanic
races it is scarcely necessary to point
out that day by day the chances of
securing the large amount of inter-
esting matter still to be procured,
either from the natives themselves or
from Europeans who have passed
their lives amongst them, are slip.
ping away; and the information of
the greatest Importance is frequently
lost from the want of some perma
nent repository in which it might be
recorded. The number Of individuals
who possess valuable information Oh
these subjects is still considerable,
and it is to them that the objects of
the proposed Society should app al
with greatest force. Their efforts in
this direction will meet with the
hearty recognition of scientific work.
ers in the Older countries, whilst they
would at the same time be doing a
work of great present interest, and
would also confer a lasting benefit
on students of the future. This
generation should avoid, in the eyes
of those who will come after them,
the reproach of having neglected
plain and manifest duty, which must
be done within very few years or
not at all"