426 Proceedings. 



quite so sanguine as the author regarding the success at the present time of the establish- 

 ment and working of a State Forests Department in New Zealand, generally admitted 

 that ultimately such conservation of our forests, if carried out by Government under pro- 

 per supervision, would prove successful and profitable, but scarcely to the extent indi- 

 cated by Mr. Lecoy. In the course of the discussion, Mr. J. T. Thomson gave some 

 valuable information, supported by statistics, bearing on the subject of forest conservation 

 in New Zealand, and referred to experiments made in this direction in Southland which 

 had not succeeded. Mr. Kirk pointed out, with others, the importance of planting our 

 large waste tracts of land, as well as conserving, and drew attention to the immense quan- 

 tity of waste timber in the colony, particularly in the north, and suggested that it should 

 be utilized as in America, namely, by our locomotives. 



Mr. Lecoy replied at considerable length, drawing attention to many points in his 

 pajDer that were most important as bearing on the value of our timbers, and repeated his 

 firm conviction that, if properly and systematically carried out, a large and profitable 

 timber trade could be established between New Zealand and other countries, which would 

 yield a considerable State revenue. 



In the course of this discussion, Mr. W. D. Campbell moved, and Mr. Bluudell 

 seconded : — " That the Council of this Society be requested to consider the advisability of 

 representing to the Government the necessity for forest conservation, and of obtaining the 

 co-operation of the affiliated societies of the New Zealand Institute for furthering the 

 object." 



Fourth Meeting. 2,drd August, 1879. 

 Martin Chapman, Vice-president, in the chair. 

 New Members. — OKver Wakefield, T. F. Eotherham. 



1. " On the Medical Aspects of Education," by W. G. Kemp, L.E.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 Eev. 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. TurnbuU 

 Thomson, F.Pt.G.S., etc. {Transactions, p. 223.) 



