Auckland Institute, 453 



Second Meeting, 14th July, 1884. 

 H. G. Seth Smith, President, in the chair. 

 New Members. — F. H. Edgecumbe, A. G. Gover, J. B. Hobart. 



1. " New Species of Pselaphida," by Captain T. Broun, M.E.S. 



2. " The Curse of Charity," by E. A. Mackechnie. 



The author referred to the economy of the animal kingdom, and showed that design 

 in all the forms of the animal framework was the same in all cases. There was no real 

 knowledge of what life is. It existed, and was sustained by a continual regulated supply 

 of food and other conditions of growth and life, but no one knew really what it was. A 

 slight puncture of the brain and it was gone ; a stoppage of the regular pulsations of the 

 heart and it ceased, and when once gone no power on earth could recall or restore it. He 

 contrasted the resemblance between the lower animals and man in many respects, and 

 showed the degree of affection that sprang up between some members of the animal 

 kingdom and man. His remarks on this point were illustrated by reference to " Rab and 

 his Friends," by Dr. Brown. But, while there was such a similarity between man and 

 the lower animals with which he was associated, the lecturer held that man in his religious 

 feelings, depth of sympathy, power of reasoning, etc., gave evidence of the existence in 

 himself of a power or faculty which was beyond that which any of the lower animals 

 possessed. The law of heredity was referred to, in the discussion of which he pointed 

 out that the physical qualities were transmitted as well as the mental, and this led to his 

 remarks on the question of charity. With Herbert Spencer, he agreed that the exercize 

 of charity has the effect of increasing the demands upon it. There was a kind of parasitic 

 quality in many people, and this quality was also transmitted. He compared this para- 

 sitic, or dependent, trait of character in human beings with the habits of parasitic plants. 

 For a time little support was derived from the plants upon which the parasites were 

 dependent, but a time came when they would depend wholly upon the supporting tree, 

 only to be destroyed, as the rata does the kauri. He referred to free education, and held 

 that parents should not shift their burdens in this respect upon the State. This reduced the 

 feeling of independence, which all should cherish, and the education given was not a useful 

 one, as there was a tendency growing up among those who were thus educated to become 

 dependent, with a disinclination to work, and in time they might become a burden to the 

 careful and independent citizens. He showed that in all things there was a greater 

 amount of care bestowed upon purely ornamental than upon useful objects. The girls 

 should be taught household work, and learn to study books upon household economy ; 

 and boys should be educated in the several trades or occupations at which they would 

 have to earn their living. For some time past the tendency of education had been as if 

 the world no more required the performance of manual labour. This was a mistake, and 

 the system of education which produced such a feeling was very defective, if not mis- 

 chievous. He referred to the position taken up by the unemployed, and contrasted it 

 with the experience of the Messrs. Chambers of Edinburgh, Nasmyth the engineer, and 

 others, who had shown a self-reliant nature. Many illustrations were given of the 

 dependence to which some have come, and the utter moral degradation to which some 

 come when they are long the recipients of what is called charity. The hospital manage- 

 ment was referred to. It was found that many here were not ashamed to apply to the 

 hospital for free medical advice who were well able to pay for such advice. He held that, 

 though the city was but small, it had its full share of lazy loafers and sturdy beggars, and 



