THE NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF SCIENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7446, 28 December 1885, Page 4

THE NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF SCIENCE.

In the closing article of the New Zealand Journal of Science for November, it is stated that after a career of four years that journal is to be discontinued. After referring to the objects and intentions for which it was established, and to the number of subscribers, the article goes on to say: " The cause of discontinuance of the journal is certainly to bo regretted, and it is not very creditable to a certain section of the subscribers. The periodical lias been more than paying its way on paper, but, as a matter of fact, lias not proved a financial success. Considering the enlightened class of readers for whom it was intended, very little margin was leEfc for non-payers; unfortunately a very large margin has been required. And as only one individual has all along guaranteed the publishers against loss, it is hardly to be expected that he will continue this guarantee in the face of such a result. In considering this matter we were at first inclined to attribute the reluctance displayed by the section of our subscribers referred to in meeting this liability to the innate depravity of New Zealanders as a community. A glance at the annals of our bankruptcy courts shows that vieum and tuvm are convertible terms in the minds of a large number of ..people, and rashly judging by this low standard, we were inclined to think very hardly of our nonpaying subscribers as a kind of exceptional race. We said in our haste, ' All men are liars.' But Herbert Spencer has completely reassured our minds. In the notes appended to his 'Study of Sociology,' he gives an account of a serial publication, ' limited in its circulation to the well-educated,' which was issued periodically to its subscribers,

' from each of. whom a small sum was due for every four numbers.' In course of time several of these subscribers fell into arrears, and, after various attempts to extract payment out of thorn, an analysis was made of. the hardened offenders who had succeeded in totally evading their claims. For instance we find in this analysis that, of the clergy who had subscribed, no less than 31 per cent, finally declined to pay. But wo can beat, that record hollow. The JS'cw Zealand Journal of Science includes, not only clergymen among its subscribers, but even bishops, and among the bishops no less than (i(i per cent, have hitherto evaded payment. This would be .^ huge joke if it were not unfortunately true. We feel inclined to say, with Spencer,' that the evidence goes to show that increase of intellectual culture is associated with decrease of conscientiousness.' But far be it from us to single out any class as specially responsible for our deficit. Our example only shows the extreme carelessness _in money matters and want of consideration, which are such prevalent features even among the class whose duty it is to lead tho community in matters of morality. If they don't pay. their debts who, we may ask, will ? We are glad to say that _ the really scientific portion of our subscribers have done their part well " It has been urged by some friends to the undertaking that the journal would have been a success if it had been more popular in its aims. Perhaps so; but in that case it would not have fulfilled its intentions. The thing called popular science is an offence to the scientific man. The latter, if he is anything at all, is a worker, and he finds his pleasure and recreation, as well as his work, in following out some line of research. But the popular scientist, as he is termed, is a mortal who wants his pabulum supplied to him in very mild doses. Technicalities are beyond him, or he will not take the trouble to find out their meaning. It was never intended to meet the wants of such quasiscientific people; and though a publication might have been issued to meet such a class, we very much doubt whether it would have

succeeded. v "In conclusion, we hope that, eve long the scientific workers of New Zealand will have so increased in numbers and cohesion— a quality rather lacking at present—as to enable them to support a periodical of their own; and .wo shall not be sorry if it perpetuates the title which our pages have borne. But we wish it a longer life and a more extended sphere of usefulness."