544 Proceedings. 



but thought more attention should be given to the subject of ventilation. As 

 to cramming children, after all he had heard about it he scarcely understood 

 ■what "cram" was. It would be impossibl'e to carry out an educational 

 system without the so-called "cram." Only about five hours were spent in 

 school daily by the children. 



Mr. R. Gillies thought their thanks were due to Dr. Bakewell for having 

 directed their attention to the want of ventilation in the public schools. None 

 of the schools were properly ventilated, except the High School, and in con- 

 sequence some parents were reluctant to send their children. He was sorry 

 that Dr. Bakewell had not touched upon a most important question — is 

 consumption so prevalent in Otago 1 The causes mentioned by the lecturer 

 were not peculiar to Otago. 



Dr. Bakewell did not intend the whole of his remarks to refer especially to 

 Otago, though there was one peculiarity which he had never seen in other 

 places — the windows not opening at the top. 



Mr. Hawthorne, after thanking the lecturer for his excellent paper, said 

 that he did not believe in over-cramming the young people. During the whole 

 of his experience in the other colonies he had never seen so little provision 

 made for the physical education of children as in Otago. He had been 

 informed by more than one parent that it was no unusual thing for the 

 children to be carried out of the Middle District School in a fainting state on 

 account of the atmosphere. He described the state of the children and 

 teachers during one of his visits to the Middle School. With the exception of 

 the North School, there was not a decent play-ground, or one worthy of the 

 name. Mr. Hawthorne referred to the new school to be erected in Moray 

 Place, which will provide accommodation for 1000 children, and only have 

 thirty feet square as a play-ground. 



Mr. Stout did not think the play-grounds were of so much importance as 

 was suggested. 



Seventh Meeting. \Wi October^ 1874. 

 R. Gillies in the chair. 



1. "Observations on the different Modifications in the Capsules of Mosses, 

 with reference to the Dispersion of their Spores," by Captain F. W. Hutton, 

 C.M.Z.S. {Transactions, p. 342.) 



2. " On the Dimensions of Dinornia bones," by Captain F. W. Hutton, 

 C.M.Z.S. {Transactions, p. 274.) 



3. " Description of the Moa Swamp at Hamilton," by B. S. Booth ; com- 

 municated by Captain Hutton. (Transactions, p. 123.) 



Mr. Murison said however they might disagree with the theories that had 



