PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5100, 28 July 1877, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, July 27. The Hon. the Speaker took the chair at' [ 2.30 p.m. PETITIONS, The Hon. Dr. MENZIES laid on the table: a petition from 77 residents of Inchclutha and 1 the neighboring districts, setting forth that ', the Kaitangata railway was not paying, and • praying the Government to take such steps in; the matter as they might deem to be best for the country. The hon. gentleman at the same time stated that : he did not at all agree with all the clauses in the petition. PAPERS. Several papers were laid on the table by the Hon. Dr. Pollen. . NOTICEB OF MOTION. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN gave notice of his intention to move on Tuesday next, —That a committee, to consist of fourteen members, be appointed to consider, all Bills that may be introduced-into this Council affecting the waste lands' of the Crown, with power to confer- with-any,Bimilar committee appointed by the House of Representatives, and to report generally upon the provisions and principles of. such.Bills,*the committee to consist of the, Hons. Messrs. Acland.'Bonar, Campbell, Holmes, Hall, G; R. Johnson, Patterson, Robinson, Williamson, Sir F. D. Bell, Captain Fraser, Dr. Menzies, Colonel Whitmore, and the mover. The hon. gentleman intimated that before the motion was put to the Council ho should aßk permission for the appointment of fourteen members on this committee, instead

of the usual number (7) allowed on committees in the Legislates Council, as he thought they should obtain as much information as possible. The Hon. Captain ERASER gave notice of his intention, on Thursday next, to ask when it is the intention of the Government to carry out the recommendation contained in the Inspector of Lunatic Asylum report on the Dunedin and other Lunatic Asylums. NEW, BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN'gave notice that on Tuesday next he would ask for leave to introduce a Bill intituled an Act to encourage the planting of forest trees. MOTION .WITHOUT NOTICE. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved, without notice, —That the Council at its rising should adjourn till eight o'clock this evening. He said he should be sorry if he were inconveniencing members by this motion, but that there was a Bill (the Imprest Supply Bill) which it was very necessary to get passed at once. It was already before the House of Representatives, and it would be brought under their notice that evening, for which purpose he would ask them to meet again. The motion was carried. motions. . The Hon. Colonel WHITMORE moved,— That the report of the Commissioners, Messrs. Giles and Browne, who recently inquired into certain allegations made relative to the land purchases on the East Coast, be laid on the table. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN said he had great pleasure in seconding the motion, which was carried. INDUSTRIAL AND PROVIDENT SOCIETIES BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved that the second reading of this Bill be discharged from the Order Paper, and made an order of the day for Tuesday next.—Carried. CONSTABULARY BILL. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN moved that this Bill be re-committed, for the purpose of amending the 32nd clause.—Carried. The Council then went into committee on the Bill, which was subsequently reported, as amended, to the Council. Its third reading was then made an order of the day for Tuesday next. The Council then (at S p.m.) adjourned till 8 p.m. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. A message was received from the House of Representatives, covering the IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The standing orders having been suspended, the Bill went through its first and second readings. The. Hon. Colonel WHITMORE inquired whether the amount asked for (£250,000) was not larger than they had been asked to grant on the occasion of previous Imprest Supply Bills. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN did not consider the amount asked for to be higher than on former occasions. The Bill was then committed, reported to the Council without amendment, and certified to by the Chairman of Committees, the hon. Major Richmond. Before the third reading of the Bill, the Hons. Colonel Whitmobe and Mr. Hall addressed the Council on the subject of the small amount of business at present on the Order Paper, and delay in the pushing forward of Bills which might be brought before them. The Hon. Dr. POLLEN having responded, The Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Council then adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, July 27. The House resumed at half-past 2 o'clock. PETITIONS. were presented by Messrs. Ballance, Swanson, Hunter, Fox, Kennedy, the Hon. Mr. Whitaker, and Mr. Lusk. NOTICES OF MOTION, ETC. A number, of notices of motion were given, as also notices of intention to ask questions of the Government. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. On the motion of Mr. Nahe leave of ab«nce was granted to Mr. Taiaroa for ten days. LUNACY LAW. ■ . . Mr. TRAVERS asked whether the Governmentintended to propose any alteration of the law relating to lunatics during the present session. He was induced to ask this question, because from enquiries he had made there appeared to be many defects in the present system. The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER replied that it was not the intention of the Government to introduce any amendments during the present session, but that should the present Ministry be in office next session it was their intention to introduce a general measure, which would have the effect of amending many defects which were at present acknowledged to exist. AS TO A RAILWAY TO WAIKANAE. ' Mr. TRAVERS asked the Minister for Public Works, —Whether the Government are in possession of any information as to the ability for arailway, of aline of road between the Upper Hutt and Waikanae, Wellington Provincial District, lately traversed by the 'Pro-; vincial Engineer of Wellington ; and, if so, : whether he wiE lay such information before this House ? The Hon. Mr. ORMOND replied that the Government were aware that the Provincial Engineer of Wellington had made the survey, but had no information beyond that, inasmuch as they had no direct communication from the Engineer, who was at present absent frqm Wellington. , COST OP SURVETS. Mr. TRAVERS asked the Government,— At whose cost the surveys of blocks of land acquired by the Government under the Immigration and Public Works Acts, 1870 and 1873, have been made ; and, if made at the cost of the Government, whether such cost is included under the heads "Incidental Payments" and General Expenses," in the Return G. —lo laid before this House last year by the then Native Minister ? The reply to this question was that the cost of surveys had been paid by the Government in nearly every case. There were, however, a few cases in which the surveys had been at the cost of the natives, and included in the purchase money. The cost was included under the head of incidental payments and general expenditure. NATIVE LAND PURCHASES. Mr. TRAVERS asked the Government,— Whether they intend, and if so, when, to lay before this House the following returns : —(1). Reports from officers on native land purchases for the year ending 30th June, 1877. (2). Detail of expenditure on account of native laud purchases to the same date. (3). Return of proceedings of Native Lands Court from 30th June, 1876, to 30th June, 1877 ? ' A satisfactory reply was given to the above questions. ASYLUM FOE THE DEAF AND DUMB. Mr. ROLLESTON asked the Government whether it was intended to make any arrangement this* session for the establishment of an asylum for the deaf and dumb. . The Hon. Major ATKINSON replied that it was not the intention of the Government to make any such provision during the present session. The Government jhad instituted enquiries on the Bubject, and'found that the time had not arrived when the establishment of such an institution would be advisable. There were places now in which persons afflicted could be received at a cost very much less than it would entail on the Government to establish and maintain an asylum. KE GROWN GRANTS. Mr. SUTTON asked the Government, — Whether it is their intention to bring in a Bill to amend the Crown Grants Amendment Act, 1870? The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER said the whole question of Crown grants was under the consideration of the Government, with the view of ascertaining whether it would not be possible to devise some means whereby to dispense entirely with the cumbersome method] of issuing Crown grants. DATE OF AGENT-GENERAL'S APPOINTMENT. In reply to Mr. Stevens, The Hon. Major ATKINSON stated that the appointment of Sir Julius Vogel to the Agent-Generalship terminated twelve months after his arrival in England, which was in December. Value of iand scrip. The Hon. Major ATKINSON, in answer to

Mr. Stevens, said it would take some time to give accurate information as to the total nominal value of unsatisfied Government land scrip in the colony. PROVINCIAL appropriations.

The Hon. Mr. GISBORNE asked the Colonial Treasurer, —Whether an overdraft of the borough of the Thames has been paid as a provincial apropriation; and if so to what amount, at what date, and under what authority ? ' The Hon. Major ATKINSON replied that the overdraft referred to was paid as a provincial liability, the amount being about £6OOO. He might state for the information of members that particulars of all these claims would be before the House very shortly. food adultbkation. The Hon. Mr. GISBORNE asked the Premier,—Whether the Government will bring in during this session a Bill to amend the Adulteration of Food Act, ISCG, or will give effect to that Act ? The Hon. Mr. WHITAKER replied that this matter had not been under the consideration of the Government until brought forward by the hon. gentleman. There wag an Act now in force, the powers of which appeared to him to be complete ; but if the hon. member would specify something in regard to which the Bill was not complete, the Government would be most happy to give it their consideration. HARBOR DEFENCES. Mr. FITZROY asked the Government,— Whether it contemplated placing any sum of money on the Estimates, or taking any steps towards the defence of the principal harbors in New Zealand ? The Government replied that no steps would be_ taken until the Royal Commission appointed had given their report. GRAHAMSTOWN-WAIKATO RAILWAT. Sir GEORGE GREY asked the Government whether it was intended to construct a railway from Grahamstown to the Waikato River ? The Hon. Mr. ORMOND replied that a survey was being proceeded with, and would, it was hoped, have been completed in time for the Government to have given the required information this session ; but' the surveyors had been delayed in consequence of the wet weather. BILL INTRODUCED. On the motion of Mr. Sutton, a Bill for the further endowment of the Borough of Napier.... AUCKLAND HIGHWAYS VALIDATION BILL. Mr. REES moved the suspension of standing orders for the purpose of introducing a "Validation Act, having reference to the Auckland Highway Boards, in order to enable them to validate their action obviated by a recent decision of Judge Gillies. Leave was given for the suspension of standing orders, and the Bill was read a first time. A discussion. then arose as to whether the second reading and other stages should not be postponed, the question of possible private interests being affected having arisen. Ultimately Mr. Bees -withdrew his motion that the Bill be read a second time, and the second reading was made an order of the day for Tuesday next. The House then proceeded to the orders of the day. SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply Bill, granting by way of supply for_ services, 1877-78, the suiti of £250,000, was introduced in the ordinary way, and passed through all its stages. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. In reply to Mr. Burns, The Hon. Major ATKINSON announced that he would deliver the Financial Statement on Tuesday next; I - - MINEES BUL. The Hon. DONALD REID, in moving the second reading of the above Bill, referred to | the amendment which had been made in the laws relating to goldmining, which had led to I complications. The Bill now prepared was a consolidation of the twelve or thirteen Acts it was intended to repeal. It was proposed in the present Bill to extend the miners' rights over a period of fifteen years, a condition which would be of great convenience to miners living in districts where miners' rights were not easily obtainable ; and there was a provision for consolidated miners' rights, which applied to companies ; and also it was provided that licenses to search for minerals other than gold should be granted under certain circumstances. He then referred to the regulations affecting the mineral leases, the area of which it was propesed to limit further. Mr. BARPP opined that the present Bill was crude and impracticable in certain districts, and was calculated to do a very great deal of harm. He had desired that the Bill should be postponed in order that it might be subject to revision. He pointed out how revolutionary in character the measure was, repealing as it did some fifteen Goldfields Acts, and he suggested that it should be referred to a committee. The whole of the details were highly objectionable, showing that the gentleman who had drawn up the Bill knew nothing whatever of goldfields matters, hurriedly prepared as it was, and evidently without consideration. He proposed that the Bill be read a second time that day week. Mr. MAUNDERS considered that the Bill contained a principle easily understood, and far from objectionable. Apart from certain matters of detail which required improvement, the Bill was on the whole one upon which the Government deserved to be complimented. Mr. BUTTON said the Government must be entirely exculpated from having broken faith with the goldfields members, as he understood that it was merely the intention that the Bill should be referred to the Goldfields Committee, as the consideration of detail was the principal question—the principle being accepted as good. He should support the second reading, understanding that it would not be hurried through its further stages, and that copies of it should be forwarded to the different districts in the colony affected.

Mr. GISBORNE, understanding that consolidation was the principle of the Bill, would not oppose the second reading, so that the details might be considered in Gommittee. Mr. CURTIS said there was far more importance attached to the Bill than some members appeared to consider. It contained some very important principles, conferred larger powers on the Governor than had ever existed before, and Waste Lands Boards were deprived of powers which they had previously exercised with benefit to the mining interest. The hon. gentleman pointed out other defects, with regard to the mineral leases, for instance, in reference to which the Governor and the Waste Lands Board had concurrent powers. He did not, however, wish for an adjournment of the debate.

Mr. WILLIAM EOWE considered that no necessity for the Bill existed, as it could not without great trouble be made to suit the circumstances of the various districts. Consolidation was not so much required. He thought that the Bill should rather be referred to a select committee than that composed of goldfields members, because the latter were too much inclined to consult the individual interests of their districts. He should support the postponement of the second reading of the Bill.

Mr. WOOLCOCK spoke in favor of the Bill, and supported the second reading, in order that it might be referred to a committee for consideration of the clauses.

The Hon. DONALD REID said the goldmining district of Auckland would not be affected by the Bill before the House.

Mr. TRAVBRS favored the postponement of a second reading. Such measures should be treated very comprehensively, and also with great care. He had no doubt that the present laws required amendment, it bein<* known to himself that very grave abuses existed, and such a Bill therefore demanded grave consideration at the hands of the House. He referred to one or two features of the proposed measure which did not meet with his approval, particularly that which provided for the delegation of certain important powers by the Governor. He hoped for these various reasons that the second reading would be postponed. The Hon. DONALD REID, in replv, pointed out the undesirability of having a full discussion in the House on the Bill now, or at a future period, as the various clauses would be amply considered by the committee.

The question was then put, that the words proposed to be left out stand part of the question, and a division taken, the result being as follows:—Ayes, 45; noes, 18—the amendment being thus negatived by a large majority. .•■».■ The Bill was then read a second time, the Hon. Donald Reid intimating that it would be at once referred to the Goldfields Committee.

CHAIUTAISLE INSTITUTIONS BILL. The Hon. DONALD EEID moved the second reading of this Bill, and firstly dwelt on the necessity for the existence of charitable institutions. This being admitted beyond dispute, the next consideration was by what means they could best establish such institutions. They had hitherto been managed with considerable success; but the change in the Constitution rendered it necessary to introduce a general measure, and the question had arisen, whether the necessary funds should be provided by means of taxation or charitable contributions from individuals, supplemented by aid from the Consolidated Revenue. After giving this matter the most serious consideration, the Government had arrived at the conclusion that the best course to be adopted was to subsidise the efforts of charitable individuals in the different districts. There were, he pointed out, many objections to the institution of a poor rate. In the first_ place, questions of settlement would arise in the distribution of aid : that, in fact, there would in all probability be disputes between different districts as to which was liable in cases where persons required relief. This had been the cause of very great litigation iu many districts in the old country. Another objection to such a course was that it would have the effect of abolishing charitable institutions to a very large extent—a circumstance which could not be regarded with any other feeling than regret, because in his opinion they did much to establish and maintain an interest in the work of charitable aid. Were those benevolent and charitable institutions abolished and a poor rate substituted, the pauper class, or those requiring charitable assistance, would look upon the aid they received as an absolute right, which he considered extremely undesirable, as it would destroy their independence and self-respect. But if the work was to be managed by means of the charitable efforts of the people, supplemented by the Consolidated Revenue, he thought they might fairly assume that all those objections would be met. On the one hand, the really deserving poor

would not be allowed to want ; and on the other hand those who were able to work, but preferred to live on charity, would have less opportunity for practising imposition. It had been said that if you paid a man to work he would work, and that if you paid him to beg he would beg ; and it had been found in the old country that in proportion to the amount of contributions raised on behalf of the poor, the number requiring to be relieved had increased. He (Mr. Beid) hoped that whatever measure the House passed would he one which would secure the objects he had endeavored to sketch out. He then proceeded to glance over the principles of the Bill before the House, refering in the first place to the constitution of the charitable institutions, and the admission of members. .A member queried the possibility of finding persons to take up the work of these institutions. ' The Hon. Mr. BEID said he could not think it possible that in any district in the colony it would be impossible to find fifty philanthropic men who would bind themselves together to raise such sums of money as were required for the absolute relief of the poor. In another portion of the Bill was aproyision for a maximum amount of subsidy. This, he pointed out, had been considered necessary, in. order to avoid the unnecessary increase of these institutions, because it would be obvious that if charitable bodies under the Act were established in every small district where their existence was not a matter of real necessity, the strain upon the revenue would be too great, and no adequate result attained. After referring to the schools in which it was proposed to give children an industrial" training, and touching briefly on the general principles of the Bill, he concluded by moving the second reading. Mr. EOLLESTO-N announced himself as being opposed to the Bill, and said Mr. Beid's speech was utterly unworthy of the subject with which it dealt. He thought the first Bill coming down to that House supplying a substitute for-the machinery that had previously been supplied in the provinces throughout the country, deserved a better fate than it had in falling into the hands of the hon. gentleman who had proposed the second reading of the Bill. They had good reason to be satisfied with those who had the administration of charitable instituti6ns throughout the colony in the past, and now, forsooth, they had a Bill brought down which left it perfectly optional whether those institutions were to he carried on or not. When the hon. gentleman was asked whether those fifty benevolent gentlemen he spoke of could be found, he said he trusted this Legislature would not admit of such a state of things a 3 that it would be impossible to find fifty charitable men to take in hand the work of raising money for the poor. That hon. gentlemanhad told them of the difficulty of administering charitable relief, and referred them to England. As a matter of fact, however, the same difficulty had been experienced with respect to education there. The great difficulty in the way of national education had been the State : Church ; and the same church discipline had very largely interfered with the system of charitable aid. The question was not dealt with as a national matter. The hon. gentleman had also spoken of the question of taxation, remarking that the difficulty of determining the liability of different localities in the distribution of relief would be very great. Well, the question of locality, he might tell the hon. gentleman, would obtain in one case equally with the other, so that there was really very little after all in the point he had laid so much stress on. He entirely dissented from what the hon. gentleman had said as to the necessity of guarding against the poor class looking upon charitable aid as a right. Personally, he knew of several poor widows in receipt of aid to enable them to live, and he should be very sorry to let them look upon the assistance they received as a matter of charity. He hoped the time had passed when the world would regard through uuch a light a class of distressed persons who had fallen through no fault of their own. Did they, he would ask, look upon the survivors of faithful civil servants of the country as objects of charity, when they were provided for by the Government ? No; and yet there was no very wide distinction. He shuddered to think what distress might accrue during the interval spent in finding those fifty individuals

■who were to take up these charitable institutions, providing that no other means of relieving the deserving poor was set in motion. This Bill was simply a miserable rechauffe of a Victorian Act, which, indeed, so far as he could gather, had been found to work exceedingly ill. He would not advocate a postponement of the Bill, neither would he move that it be read that day six months, as the subject no doubt must come up again during the present session; but he should like to see the Bill rejected by the House, and brought in again entirely remodelled. The debate was interrupted at this point by the hour of adjournment. On resuming, Dr. WALLIS said he could scarcely understand tho measure, it being so vague in some respects and so defective in others. No doubt provision would be made for the support by the State of the aged and infirm, and he thought a poor-law rate preferable to the proposals made by the Government in the present Bill. The Bill was exceedingly defective in that it passed over altogether the necessity of institutions for the reclamation of drunkards and fallen women ; and on the other hand it had one merit—that of making provision for the establishment and regulation of industrial Schools. As to the financial aspect of the Bill, he thought it ought to have provided that the cost of charitable institutions should fall upon the Land Fund. No fairer charge could be thrown upon the landMr. STEVENS said no measure could be of greater social importance than this. He disapproved of handing over existing institu-

tions working well to the tender mercies of the first fifty gentlemen who chose to subscribe as "many, pounds; and he _ did not think the provision for new institutions at all complete or adequate to the requirements of the country. Such a Bill would be worthless on the statute book, and he should move that it be read a second time that day six months. The Government had taken upon itself an unnecessary duty in attempting to do that which might well be left to private sympathy. The financial basis of the measure was simply absurd. The Government were to give a pound for every pound locally raised by subscriptions. Supposing nothing was raised locally, were the poor and destitute of a district to be left to starve ? He considered that those who fell in the battle of life through no fault of their own should be supported by the State, and not thrown upon those who j were willing to contribute, while those who I were niggardly were not forced to give anything. Numbers of people would refuse to subscribe, on the principle that the State should make due provision for its poor. He moved that the Bill be read a second time that day six months. The Hon. Major ATKINSON thought the conclusion the last speaker had arrived at had been narrowed by the fact of his having lived in a community which could always support its own poor. When the provincial institutions were taken over, the charge for hospitals, &c, for the whole colony amounted to £59,000, of which Canterbury alone had paid £29,000. That might account for the position he had taken up. The view the Government took was this —that they should do all they could to induce the men who had been successful to support those who had been unsuccessful. The proposed system had worked well in Otago, and he hoped the voluntary system would be preferred to anything in the shape of a poor rate, which Mr. Stevens seemed to desire. In New Zealand that should be the last thing thought of. If that system were once commenced, there would soon be no limit to it. If ho had understood Mr. Bolleston aright, he advocated a simple communism—he seemed to think that the poor had simply a right to take of their richer brethren. He asked the House to consider the real question at issue—whether local effort, or whether a system of poor rates was to be instituted.

The Hon. Mr. GISBOENE said he should support the second reading of the Bill, because he considered local administration preferable to any centralised system with an unlimited supply of Government money. However, in committee he hoped the Bill* would be considerably modified. Mr. KELLY supported the second reading of the Bill, with certain reservations.

Mr. KEES took exception to alleged defects in the administrative machinery provided by the Bill, and thought it bad in principle, quoting Mill to show that it was calculated to encourage acts of crime, as men who could not obtain charitable aid would commit small thefts to get winter quarters, just as Chinese did in Victoria. It should be made compulsory on all people to contribute to the support of the poor; especially on the rich, who could best be reached by an income tax. Mr. SWANSOJST having discovered that if the Bill were thrown out, there could be no legislation this session, said he should move the adjournment of the debate. He was convinced it was absolutely necessary that there should be some legislation immediately. The motion, however, was temporarily withdrawn. Mr. TEAVEES then addressed the House. He thought the Government deserved credit for having introduced a Bill of puch an avowed object, but he thought the Bill by no means a good one. Assuming the Wellington Hospital to fall into the hands of. fifty persons, a sufficient number to acquire control if the hospital had no endowment its sole revenue would consist possibly of £SO subscriptions, and another £SO contributed by the Government. They could give no more, as the clauses of the Bill simply amounted to an appropriation of a certain sum, beyond which the Government could not go. The voluntary principle was no doubt a success in England, but he fancied the colony was too young for it to follow that example at present; nevertheless, voluntary subscriptions should be invited ; but ample provision should be absolutely made by the State. He hoped the Government would withdraw the Bill and amend it, in which case he was sure it would meet with support from all sides of the House, as it was in no sense a party question. He thought the' Premier had under-estimated the amount expended in charitable aid in the colony ; it should be set down at about £75,000 ; and he also thought the cost of such institutions should be met by direct taxation, and that they should not fall upon the already over-burdened Customs. Mr. WAKEFIELD condemned the Bill in. its entirety, and devoted a great portion of his remarks to a criticism of the conduct of the Hon. Mr. Eeid.

Mr, BALLANCE argued that it was the ultimate social good to which the House had to look to, and if the question here was narrowed to a question between poor laws and voluntary effort, he thought there, could scarcely be any difference of opinion as to the damaging, demoralising, pauperising effect of the former, and the beneficial effect of local effort and local administration in that it checked mendicancy. He took exception to some of the provisions of the Bill, but approved its main principle, and spoke of the great success of the Wanganui Benevolent Society, hospital, and such charitable bodies. He believed the same success would result in other parts of the colony if this Bill were brought into operation. It was absurd to suppose local bodies should be placed in possession of large funds. They were under no responsibility, and he would oppose to the utmost any attempt to make the colony provide the whole of the funds for these Let them have a subsidy to assist them at first, and this assistance should not be taken out of the pockets of a particular class, as some hon. gentlemen seemed to think, but from all classes. He was convinced the main principle of the Bill was too valuable to lose, and must be preserved, whatever modifications there might be in its minor provisions. (Applause). Mr. LTJMSDEN supported the Bill, and Hpoke most favorably of the voluntary system, as it worked in Invercargill and the surrounding districts. Messrs. Lusk, Murray-Aynsley, Shrimski, and Woolcock having addressed the House, Mr. MONTGOMEEY moved the adjournment of the debate, which was lost on a division by 31 to 25. Messrs. Burns, Fisheb, and Eowe having spoken, the adjournment of the debate was moved by Mr. Macandbew, and carried on the voices. The House adjourned at 12.45 a.m.

A curious and suggestive table of statistics has recently appeared in France, which will doubtless prove of much value in the hands of students of psychology and nervous mental ailments. It relates to suicides ; and the conditions, &c, of the people who made away with themselves in 1874 in France are taken as the basis of the figures. In that year, 5617 suicides occurred, the largest number ever known in any one year in the country. Of these, 4435, or 79 per cent., were committed by men ; 1182, or 21 per cent., by women. In spite of the careful investigations of the police, the ages of 105 people could not be determined. The 5512 others are divided a 3 follows : between 16 and 21 years, 193 ; between 21 and 40 years, 1477 ; between 40 and 60 years, 2214 ; exceeding the last-mentioned age, 1599. About 36 per cent, of these unfortunates were unmarried, 48 per cent. married, and 16 per cent, widowers. Of those which constituted the last two classes, nearly two-thirds had children. More than aeventenths of the suicides were effected by strangulation or drowning. The crime was most frequently committed during spring, when 31 per cent, of tho whole number destroyed themselves ; during other seasons the percentages were —in summer, 27 ; in winter, 23 ; in autumn, 19. In the tables are the results of the judicial inquests, showing the professions and callings of the deceased. About 33 per cent, were farmers, 30 per cent, mechanics, 4 per cent, merchants or business men, 16 per cent, members of the liberal professions, 4 per cent, servants, and 13 per cent, were destitute of

any calling. The table even analyses, in all but 481 people, the motives which caused the fatal act. Thus we are told that 652 killed themselves because of reverses in fortune, 701 through family troubles, 572 through drunkenness, 243 through love, debauchery, &c; 798 died to avoid physical suffering, 59 to avoid the penalties of capital crimes, 489 for unclassified troubles, and 1622 were clearly shown to have been afflicted with some mental disease.