Wellington Philosoiyhical Society, 539 



affinity between races should not therefore rest upon the designs of their laandiwork, which 

 is often quite opposed to the results of an examination of the structure of their language, 

 which, of course, is a much surer guide. He spoke of the affinities of race which really 

 do exist as most wondrous and suggestive, and mentioned that one form of the Malagash 

 {i.e. Madagascar) numerals was identical with those of Fiji, which again closely resemble 

 those of New Zealand. 



A discussion of a conversational character ensued, Dr. Hector pointing out the 

 interest of the observation made by Mr. Eomilly, that, after battling for many days with 

 a strong adverse current, a sudden change in its direction had carried them in the wished- 

 for course without a change of wind, as bearing on the intercourse of the inhabitants of 

 the different islands. 



The thanks of the Society were recorded to Mr. Eomilly for his interesting address. 



Sixth Meeting. 21st January, 1882. 

 Dr. Hector, President, in the chair. 



Neiv Members. — E. Best, Allen Hogg, M. Fearnley, 0. Hedley, J. McLen- 

 nan, A. F. Somerville, and Dr. T. E. King. 



A list of the additions to the library since last meeting (some 40 volmnes) 

 was laid on the table, and the principal objects added to the Museum were 

 exhibited. 



1, "A Study of the Causes leading to the Extinction of the Maori," by 

 Alfred K. Newman, M.B., M.E.C.P. {Transactions, p. 459.) 



Dr. Grace agreed with a good deal in the paper, but did not accept the statement that 

 the Maori race were dying out so fast as the author seemed to think. No doubt they were 

 decreasing, and the fundamental cause was their indolent habits. If it were possible to 

 make the Maoris do a fair share of work for their existence the race would improve. In 

 Jamaica, which was a fertile country, the natives were lazy, and they were decreasing ; 

 but in Barbadoes, where the soil and climate were not so good, and where they were 

 obliged to work for their living, they were increasing. We_ had a duty to perform in im- 

 proving the race. We had to a certain extent deprived them of their vigorous habits, and 

 have not succeeded in impressing upon them the benefits to be derived from true industry 

 and virtue. He did not think they suffered much more from introduced diseases than did 

 Europeans. The need for healthy manual labour was at the root of the evil, especially in 

 a humid climate like ours, where such habits are necessary. He did not look with despair 

 at the future of the Maori, and he thought that in fifty years hence we should have a 

 larger population of natives than we have now. 



The President, in thanking Dr. Newman for his eloquent address, said he was inchned 

 to agree with Dr. Grace, except that he appeared to underrate the effect of the great 

 epidemics of measles and such diseases in former times ; but the Maori race was not at 

 present decreasing so fast as formerly, except in the vicinity of towns and large settled 

 districts. In the King country he had seen large families of healthy children. He there- 

 fore could not agree with the author in attributing the decrease of the Maoris to an 

 inherent tendency to decay. We were really to blame, and chiefly from having induced 

 the natives to abandon their old habits and customs. We have destroyed their social 

 organization, and not replaced it with ours. In serving our own purposes we have under- 



