Wellington Philosophical Society.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 12, 1879, Page 423

Wellington Philosophical Society. First Meeting, 14th June, 1879. A. K. Newman, M.B., President, in the chair. New Members.—A. S. Birch, G. Allen, R. Lee, Hugh Pollen, — Edwards, J. Hayward, C. E. Zohrab, C. Callis, R. S. Waterhouse, T. C. Richmond, R. T. Holmes, E. Lee (of Napier), D. Mills, Dr. Collins.

Second Meeting. 26th July, 1879. Martin Chapman, Vice-president, in the chair. New Members.—H. W. Saxton, of New Plymouth; W. H. Holmes. 1. “On the Forest Question in New Zealand,” by A. Lecoy, LL.B., M.A. (Transactions, p. 3). The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse thought the author too sanguine as to the success of such an undertaking in New Zealand at present, at the same time believing it to be highly important that conservation of New Zealand forests should be commenced, as no doubt in the future some such scheme as the author advanced might be carried out. He could hardly agree with the author's estimate, especially as regards the value of our timber as compared with others, or as to the small expense of management when the present price of labour is considered. Dr. Newman agreed with Mr. Waterhouse. He did not think we could compete with other countries, especially on a large scale. The author was mistaken as to the great value of our timber; still, it was most important that New Zealand forests should be protected. Mr. Blundell, while considering the paper valuable, thought the calculations and estimates scarcely reliable. He agreed that conservation should be carried out with the view of future operations. Mr. O'Neill was of opinion that great weight should be attached to the views of the author, as coming from one who had devoted so much of his time to the question of forestry, and who could speak on the subject with so much experience. He, himself, agreed that some of our timbers were superior in many ways to those used elsewhere. The author deserved the thanks of the society for having brought forward such an important subject.

The Rev. Mr. Ottway agreed with the author, and considered that probably the estimate as regards our timber was even under-stated, but that the real value of the timbers could not be ascertained until a market had been created for them. He mentioned his own experience in districts in the North Island, where puriri trees, which could at one time be had for the asking, in some eight years become worth 25s each, and that since that time (1874) that timber had been in great demand for railway trucks and gun-carriages, and had become a considerable source of wealth to those who had conserved the trees. He also pointed out that the peculiar value of the New Zealand timber lay in the large size of the hardwood logs that could be obtained. Dr. Hector thought it of the highest importance that this subject should be thoroughly inquired into, and the author deserved great praise for the trouble he had taken in preparing the paper. Anyone who helped to bring about the conservation of our forests conferred a public benefit. Mr. Kirk had listened with pleasure to the paper. He thought the extent to which conservation should be carried out ought to be considered; also the question as to its effect on climate. There was nothing in New Zealand to compare with the oak or spruce. Kauri was our best timber, but unfortunately it was fast disappearing. Mr. Lecoy replied at some length, and refuted many doubts cast by previous speakers on the value of his statistics. He thought that when his paper had been read carefully, it would be found that his views were supported by experience. On the motion of Mr. O'Neill, the further discussion of this paper was adjourned until next meeting, to afford members an opportunity of perusing it as it deserved.

Third Meeting. 9th August, 1879. A. K. Newman, M.S., President, in the chair. New Member.—J. S. Prendeville.

Fourth Meeting. 23rd August, 1879. Martin Chapman, Vice-president, in the chair. New Members.—Oliver Wakefield, T. F. Rotherham. 1. “On the Medical Aspects of Education,” by W. G. Kemp, L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C.S.Eng. (Appendix.) The Hon. Mr. Waterhouse said this was a most important subject, and the author deserved great credit for bringing it forward. He thought some importance should be attached to conversational education. The particular taste of the child should be studied, and the mind and body developed at the same time. Mr. Young agreed with Dr. Kemp. The teachers, however, were not to blame; they had to carry out a system without any choice. It was always high pressure, and the children were pushed beyond their strength. Mr. Woodward thought this subject was more addressed to parents, who had the greatest influence over their children. He objected to the great amount of home work given to school children. The work in school hours was quite sufficient as a rule. The Rev. Mr. Ottway said that the standard of knowledge required in our New Zealand schools seemed to go on increasing, and the consequence was that all was done in a hurry and the brain upset. The teachers in country districts were expected to do with the children as much as those in towns, while the country children had not the same opportunities. Mr. Blundell spoke in favour of the paper, and said that he thought intoxication was in a measure due to overwork of the brain of young people, after leaving school. 2. “Pronouns and other Barat Fossil Words compared with Primeval and Non-Aryan Languages of Hindostan and Borders,” by J. Turnbull Thomson, F.R.G.S., etc. (Transactions. p. 223.)

This was the last of a series of five papers devoted to an inquiry on the “Whence of the Maori.” The author explained the various steps he had taken in his investigations—(1) ethnological, (2) philological, and latterly, glossarial. He by this means originally traced the connections between the various tribes of Polynesia, Malaya, and Madagascar, and latterly the affinities between them and the primitive races of Hindostan. During his enquiries his attention had wide scope, he having had to scrutinize about 150 vocabularies of Asia, 200 of Africa, 25 of Australia, and 50 of America, in none of which, outside of the area occupied by the Malagas-Malayo-Polynesian races, had he detected root or fossil words, excepting in Hindostan and borders, and exceptionally on the east coast of Africa, near to Madagascar. All the evidence adduced, including that of fossil words, pointed to archaic Hindostan as the original seat of the Malagas-Malayo-Polynesian race. That country was therefore the “whence of the Maori,” a fact particularly interesting to New Zealand settlers. To get rid of a long name for one race, he had taken the liberty to call them Barata, ancient Hindostan having been termed the land of Barat by the Malays, as expressed by their poetry—to wit: Angin Barat galombang sulissei, ahioh nona, etc.; as by the Hindoos, Bharata, and as by the Malagasi, Avaratra, all one word, according to the phonology of each language. This interference with the dogmas of old New Zealand writers and historians was no doubt very obnoxious, yet he would hold to the designation till he saw some facts brought forward to overturn his theory. The author next alluded to subsequent glossarial though pre-historic influences in the languages of the Malay Archipelago, particularly of the Aryan or Sanscritic, which, though imposing many words, these, in no case were radicals. Later again, and within historic times, Arabic, Persian, and even Portuguese, had affected the languages, but only in a similar manner. None of these languages had imposed a single word on Polynesia, the Arabic alone having had slight influence on Malagasi as regarded tertiary terms. The whole inquiry indicated a very remote or archaic connection between the insular tropical tribes extending from Madagascar to Easter Island and the Land of Barat, i.e.,—ancient Hindostan. In the discussion that succeeded, Dr. Buller made remarks on the Moriori of the Chatham Islands; Mr. Knorpp, on the Todas of the Nilgherries iu India; the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse, on Sanscrit in Polynesia; Mr. Chapman, on the physical geography of the area occupied, on the Tamil Bell,* Vide Trans. N.Z.Inst., Vol. IV., p. 40, and plate. on the navigation between Sumatra and Madagascar, and on the ideal continent once occupying the site of the Pacific Ocean;—to all of which the author shortly replied. 3. “Moriori Connection,” by J. Turnbull Thomson, F.R.G.S., etc. (Transactions, p. 237.) Fifth Meeting. 13th September, 1879. Martin Chapman, Vice-president, in the chair. 1. “On the Medical Aspects of Education” (Part II.), by W. G. Kemp, L.R.C.P.Lond., M.R.C.S.Eng. (Appendix.) Mr. Woodward thanked the author for having drawn attention to this subject in such a carefully thought out paper. He stated that the questions of lighting and seats would in future receive more consideration.

Mr: J. T. Thomson and the Hon. Mr. Randall Johnson complimented Dr. Kemp on his paper, which contained many suggestions which it was most desirable should be adopted. 2. “On Wind-formed Lakes,” by J. C. Crawford, F.G.S. (Transactions, p. 415.) Mr. G. M. Williams said he had noticed small lakes on the West Coast formed, no doubt, in this way. Mr. Maxwell had seen small pools of this kind, but hardly to be called lakes. He scarcely thought the Wairarapa Lake had been formed in this way. 3. “On Grasses and Fodder Plants,” by S. M. Curl, M.D. (Transactions, p. 382.) The Hon. Mr. Randall Johnson pointed out the value of such a paper as this. He did not think farmers, generally speaking, could carry out such experiments; it should more properly be done by Schools of Agriculture, which he hoped soon to see established in the colony. They had made a commencement in this direction at Christchurch. He might instance one plant, the prickly comfrey, that had been highly recommended as likely to do well in this country, but which had been rejected. It did not suit the climate or soil—two things of the greatest importance. Mr. Kirk stated that the most important point mentioned by the author, the necessity of a mixture of several grasses in order to form good pasture, had been stated in early volumes of the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. He had felt somewhat disappointed in not finding any new matter brought forward in that portion of the paper which had been read. The general statements, with regard to the utter want of attention paid to grass culture, required qualification, as considerable improvement has taken place in New Zealand during the last few years. He had seen excellent grass paddocks in the district in which the author resided, and knew that a large quantity of seed of the best natural and artificial grasses was imported into the Rangitikei district annually. He fully agreed with the author as to the desirability of encouraging the growth of some of the native grasses, several of which were of proved value when mixed with those ordinarily cultivated, as might be seen in several localities near Wellington, and in other parts of the colony. One or two incidental matters mentioned by Dr. Curl involved issues of considerable interest, but he would only notice one of these. The author stated that plants were capable of being acclimatized, or according to the popular meaning of the term, of becoming so modified by cultivation as to be enabled to endure a climate very different from that for which they were originally adapted by nature. Now there was not the slightest evidence in support of this statement. It would be correct to say that in many cases the proper mode of cultivation had not been discovered until after many failures, but that was a very different matter front such a gradual alteration in the constitution of a plant as would enable it to withstand the effects of a climate for which it was not naturally suited. Sixth Meeting. 27th September, 1879. A. K. Newman, M.B., President, in the chair. New Member.—J. Park.

Ninth Meeting. 22nd November, 1879. Martin Chapman, Vice-president, in the chair. New Members.—Dr. Gillon, George Drury.

Tenth Meeting. 10th January, 1880. A. K. Newman, M.B., President, in the chair. New Members.—Rev. W. M'William, J. W. Henley.