Auckland Institute.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 25, 1892, Unnumbered Page

Auckland Institute. First Meeting: 13th June, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Members.—R. Garlick, J. W. Lusher, H. Shrewsbury, G. W. Wright. The Secretary read a list of donations to the Library and Museum received since the last meeting.

Second Meeting: 27th June, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Member.—E. W. Payton. Papers.—1. “On the Occurrence of Granite and Gneissic Rocks in the King-country,” by James Park, F.G.S. (Transactions, p. 353.)

Third Meeting: 11th July, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair.

Fourth Meeting: 25th July, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Member.—Dr. Humphry Haines. Papers.—1. Discussion was invited on the paper read by

the Rev. J. Bates on “Evolutionary Ethics” at a recent meeting. Mr. Josiah Martin said that since the last meeting he had had an opportunity of going through the paper. It was full of facts, and was well worthy of consideration. He would not attempt to reply to it, but simply add something to it. He reviewed the leading points of the paper, and the theories set out by Mr. Bates. He especially referred to its bearing on moral teaching. He said that their public schools were doing noble work in inculcating obedience, order, patience, and perseverance, as well as truth, honour, and honesty; and he commented at some length on school-life in the school and playground, and the example set by the teachers. But there were, he admitted, weak points in the system, and the pupils failed to find that virtue was its own reward, for smartness passed for industry, and examinations for education, and there was a danger of liberty becoming license. They wanted the school system to teach responsibility and accountability, which was almost lost sight of now that the dogmas of Scripture were not taught in their schools. To counteract that, they should support the authority of the teachers and attract the best men, for no text-book could have the power the example of the teachers had in making the characters of their future men and women. He held that the State should teach reverence for authority and the duties of citizenship, and should teach that privileges have their corresponding obligations, and that good conduct should be a qualification for every stage of advancement. Then, the instruction should inculcate loyalty and patriotism, and to accomplish this they must teach the secret of organization, which required the teaching of discipline and moral science. Many cried out with fear and alarm when the Bible ceased to be a text-book, and exclaimed that the schools would become godless. There never was a danger of that; but they wanted something to replace it, and such a text-book had not been yet written. Another subject of study should be social economy. Science and religion were not opposed, but went hand in hand in the advancement of the human race. 2. “Notice of the Occurrence of the Luth, or Leathery Turtle, on the Coasts of New Zealand,” by T. F. Cheeseman, F.L.S. (Transactions, p. 108.)

Fifth Meeting: 22nd August, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. Papers.—1. “The Effect of the Introduction of Deer on the New Zealand Bush: A Plea for the Protection of our Forest Reserves,” by the Rev. P. Walsh. (Transactions, p. 435.) The President stated that his sympathies were entirely in the direction of Mr. Walsh's paper. Nevertheless, it was difficult to arrive at any practical scheme for the thorough preservation of forest reserves. It was clearly impossible to fence a huge reserve like that surrounding Mount Egmont, and thus prevent the access of cattle; and yet the slow and

gradual depredations of cattle would in a few years greatly alter the character of that reserve. People visiting the forest would also by degrees destroy its sylvan character, for it seemed to be impossible to prevent such people from lighting fires and burning considerable areas. He regarded the destruction of the New Zealand forests as almost inevitable.

Sixth Meeting: 5th September, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. Judge T. H. Smith gave a popular lecture on “Maori Nomenclature: Names of Persons, Places, and Things.” (Transactions, p. 395.) Seventh Meeting: 19th September, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. New Members.—J. R. Reed and W. Seddon.

Eighth Meeting: 3rd October, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair. Mr. E. Withy gave a popular lecture on “Sanitation and Ventilation as required in a Modern House.” (Transactions, p. 459.) Ninth Meeting: 17th October, 1892. Professor F. D. Brown, President, in the chair New Members.—F. W. Maclean, G. Mueller. Papers.—1. “New Species of Araneœ,” by A. T. Urquhart. (Transactions, p. 165.)

Annual General Meeting: 20th February, 1893. Mr. T. Peacock in the chair.