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Fifth Meeting. May 31, 1870.
A. Eccles, F.R.C.S., Vice-President, in the chair.
1. “On the Sand hills, or Dunes, near Dunedin,” by P. Thomson. (See Transactions.)
Mr. J. T. Thomson, F.R.G.S., said he could corroborate the statements made in the paper, which he considered to be very accurate. At Green Island, for instance, there was a fine fertile valley stretching down to the sea, and the settlers by clearing it, were opening it to the encroachments of the sand, so that several fine homesteads there would in a few years be entirely obliterated. At Waikouaiti the sand had made considerable encroachments on the farm of Mr. John Jones, but he understood that an attempt had been made to stop further encroachments. He thought it fortunate that the prevailing winds in this part of New Zealand were from the south-west, as otherwise much valuable land would be covered with sand. The subject was an important one, and he thought planting would be the only remedy.
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A discussion ensued, and the general opinion appeared to be that planting the sand banks was necessary. It was further mentioned that great injury was caused by the settlers allowing their cattle to run upon the sand, thereby breaking the firm upper surface.
The adjourned debate on Mr. S. Hawthorne's paper on “Co-operation” was resumed by Mr. Bathgate, who said that he supported what had already been so well put forth by Mr. Hawthorne, but considered that co-operation had its origin at a date far earlier than that which, that gentleman had ascribed to it.
Mr. Stout, in reply, read a lengthy speech, and quoted extracts from various writers on political economy, contending that Mr. Hawthorne's ideas, as enunciated in the paper, were radically unsound.
Mr. Langlands agreed with Mr. Hawthorne on the subject of co-operation, which he thought was sound in a commercial point of view, and not inconsistent with the principles of political economy; but he disagreed with him on the question of wages.
The Rev. D. M. Stuart thought Mr. Stout had come to the conclusion that co-operation was a good thing, but that the illustrations given in the paper were unsound.
Mr. Hawthorne replied, and as there was no other business to be brought before the meeting, it adjourned till the second Monday in July.