416 Proceedings. 
(ABSTRACT.) 
The author said he thought that if his suggestion was acted on it would 
have a beneficial influence on the character and stamina of the future 
inhabitants of the colony. The village greens of England constitute a common 
property, on which squire and ploughboy meet on equal terms. It had been 
his good fortune to witness scenes of mirth and joyfulness on four or five 
village greens, which had conveyed to his mind the most perfect ideal of 
unalloyed happiness he had ever seen. Children play there with an 
independence which can only arise from the intuitive feeling in their minds 
that if they do not own their playground no one else does. He firmly believed 
that the agricultural labourer's pleasantest recollections were of the hours of 
his youth spent on the village green of his natal place; and that, when 
emigrating, such reminiscences went far to enhance his love for the land of 
his birth. The author then remarked that the waste lands of the colony were 
being sold without any commons being left, so that games of cricket, etc., are 
commonly advertized to be played in paddocks kindly lent for the purpose. 
Soon, in this Britain of the South, when villages are populous, there will be 
no playground for children but the long, straight, and dusty roads; and 
the love of country, which would have been engendered by playing on a 
common, will find no place in their hearts. There should be no walks or 
flower beds, as in city parks; no right to graze cattle ; the green should be 
left in a state of nature, except that the village club might level a place for 
their, games. Medical men could, doubtless, point out that reserves are 
necessary on sanitary grounds; that the free use of the muscles, and the joyous 
abandon of youthful games are conducive to the development of a perfect 
body and a virtuous mind. He would not venture to trench on the legal part 
of the question. 
2. * Note on the Occurrence of Dermestes lardarius and Phoracantha 
recurva in Canterbury, New Zealand," by C. M. Wakefield. (Transactions, 
p. 153.) 
Тнівр Meere. 7th May, 1873. 
G. W. Hall in the chair. 
On the motion of Dr. Turnbull, seconded by Dr. Powell, resolved—That 
a Standing Committee be appointed to watch over the formation of townships, 
whether Government or private, so that a piece of land be set aside-in each for 
the purposes of recreation, etc. The Committee in each case to bring the 
subject before the Government, so that a recreation ground, in proportion to 
size of township, may be set aside. The Standing Committee to consist of 
Dr. Coward, Mr. Bray, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Fereday. 
