Thomson. — On Frankland's Paper on Mind-Stuff. 107 



Fourteen of these results are within 5 feet of the mean mentioned 

 above. 



In my " Notes on the Height of Mount Cook," read at this Institute on 

 the 7th of August, 1879, I stated the height to be, from my own observa- 

 tions, 12,375 feet, but as my observations were made under unfavourable 

 circumstances, I consider Mr. Eoberts' determination as the most reliable. 



I took observations at six stations only, the nearest being 34 miles from 

 Mount Cook, and the other five varied from 71 miles to 130 miles. 



Mr. Eoberts took observations from twenty-two stations, averaging only 

 16 miles from Mount Cook, so he would have much better opportunities of 

 getting accurate results than I had. 



Aet XI. — Remarks on Mr. Frankland's Paper on " Mind-Stuf.''^ 



By J. TuENBULL Thomson, F.E.G.S., F.E.S.S.A., etc. 



[Read before the Southland Institute, 2Qth March, 1881.] 



Me. Feankland's paper on " Mind-Stuff"* excited considerable attention 

 amongst the ethical world of Wellington ; and, as it is a subject in which 

 interest is ever reviving, I hope I shall be held excused for bringing it 

 before the notice of the members of the Southland Institute. On hearing 

 the paper read, I found my opinions at variance with the author, and had 

 noted my objections at the time, but any desire of stating these publicly 

 and immediately lapsed in my listening to the reply by Mr. Justice Eich- 

 mond. However, on reperusing the paper as printed in the " Transac- 

 tions," it struck me that there was yet room for observations, and they are 

 as follows : — 



Mr. Frankland, at the commencement, states the object of his paper as 

 being "to describe briefly a theory or doctrine of existence, expounded 

 by the late Professor Clifford, in an article ' On the Nature of Things 

 in Themselves,'" and, at the end, he sums up in the following manner: 

 " That there is nothing in the doctrine of Mind-Stuff to negative the belief 

 either of the spiritualist or the theologian ; " but, " there is equally little in 

 it to encourage or lend assistance to theological belief." Again, "In regard 

 to theology, the doctrine of Mind-Stuff," he says, " is neutral." " It affirms 

 that there is only one Existence, and that the supposed dualism of matter 

 and spirit is an illusion." 



* Trans, N.Z. Inst., Vol. XII., p. 805, 



