WAIWERA MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 173, 2 November 1877, Page 6

WAIWERA MUTUAL IMPROVEMENT SOCIETY.

« The usual monthly meeting of the Waiwera Mutual Improvement Association was held in the Schoolhouse on Wednesday evening, the 17th inst. On the minutes of the previous meeting being read, Mr Littlejohn took exception at what was there stated of his having treated on Evolution, and said that the mention of such a theory in connection with the " temporal advantages of observing the Sabbath," appeared Highly ridiculous. He also questioned the correctness of the word " protoplasms " used in the minutes, saying that it had no plural. It was, he believed, a word invented by Professor Huxley. Tn reply, the Secretary contended that treating of the formation ordevelopment of animals from protoplasm or protoplasms was certainly trenching on Evolution. He also maintained that " protoplasms " was correct, and that Mr Littlejohn himself had used it in the plural. The minutes were then confirmed. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Littlejohn, seconded by Mr M'Kenzie, " That after the delivery of essay, every i i it • '' member shall express an opinion on the same." Mr Wallace then gave an essay on " The Causes of Drunkenness." He said that a taste for intoxicating drink was not natural but acquired ; even tho lower animals could be taught to relish it, as in the case of the brewers' horses. There were three periods in man's existence wheh this taste was most likely to be acquired. The first was before birth, when the vices of dissipated and debauched parents were inherited by their offspring. Of such it might truly be said "conceived in intoxication and born in drunkenness." The second period when this vitiated taste was acquired, was immediately after birth, as for instance, in the case of a weak and delicate mother, who, by the advice of her medical attendants, partakes freely of wine, porter, &c,, which liquors are conveyed through nature's channels to the infant on her breast. Tbe third period was that critical time when a young man leaves the parental roof and enters on life. The numerous temptations which almost invariably beset one so circumstanced, too often prove too strong for the inexperienced youth. As regards the prevention of drunkenness, nothing effective had yet been done. The Government, he considered, was the proper power to deal with the matter. Instead of getting off with a trifling fine, these offenders should be treated as lunatics. Mr Littlejohn wanted to know how, if a taste for drink was acquired and not natural, the fact was to be accounted for that all savage nations had their narcotics and intoxicating- liquors. Mr Sparks questioned whether it were within the province of the law to interfere in the matter. Mr Spiers could not allow that the law had power to prevent drunkenness. It could no more make a man sober and moral than it could make him religious. Mr M'Kenzie was of opinion that the Government was mainly to blame for the prevalence of drunkenness, for by making a revenue out of the traffic in drink ie encouraged the evil. At the same time he did not believe in utterly prohibiting the use of alcholic liquors; vine was created for man's use, it was its abuse that was to be condemned. Mr Wallace briefly replied, adhering to the opinions he had already expressed.