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Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4224, 15 July 1882, Page 2

Mb DfiNTOK delivered bis lecture on the " Origin af Man " last night, before a large audience., This lecture is generally regarded as his master-piece, and deservedly so. He intimated that he believed that life origisated through spontaneous generation, and for information on this subject referred his hearers to Dr Baatian's work °on the beginning of life. He held that life came into existence without germs or eggs; that the protozoa of the Laurentian period sprang

into life spontaneously as Boon as the conditions were favorable. But the question of spontaneous generation had nob yet been determined; there were enrnent names on both sides. Darwin, Huxley, and Tyndall were opposed to it, whilst Professor Owen, of England, Haekel, of Germany, and the late Mr Draper, of America, favored the theory. The lecturer I next referred to the law of variation, that as a peculiarity appeared it tended to transmission, and instanced the hooked no«es of the Jews as descending throughout all ceoturies. If the differences continued they would develop into species and finally genera. Darwin believed the first being was made, Ife waß breathed into it, and then the law of evolution came into play. But why, he would ask, all this round-about ? Why not make nan at once, instead of evolving him from the earliest forms of life ? But there were certain linos ; thus modifications took place ocoording to circumstances. In the Mammoth cave there were blind fish. The water had originally run into the cave from a | river, and there the fish were detained. They j had all the organs connected with the eye, but i through want of exercise they had became useless Sir 0. Lyell showed that the cabbage and cauliflower were metamorphosed from a seaside plant. Then there was the law of natural selection, the survival of the fittest. The cod brings about nine million egg 3 into existence at once, but probably not more than a dozen survive the straggle for existence. Turn the dogs loose, and how many lap-dogs wi'l be left in twelve months ? The one most like a wolf would be most likely to survive. God, looking at the best results for the greatest number, adapted them to their conditions. Then there was metamorphosis : there was a time when all forms of life were identical, all came from eggs, and all advanced from that stage. There were worms in the earth probubly before any insects. Worms are (ha line over which insects travel, and fish the line of frogs. Men starts a? an egg, and passes through the stages of fish, reptile, bird, mammal, into man and seemed an epitome of all. Huxley said it was a long time before they were able to distinguish between the embryo fetus of the man and the puppy. Going back through the ages it was found that the four fins of fish corresponded with the at ms and legs of man, that the wings and legs of birds had timi'ar correspondence. Forms of life pass along the line bearing resemblance to the next highest. There was a greater difference between the brain of the Australian and the Caucasian than between the lowest of human beings and the highest of the monkeys by sfc cubic inches. Then it was frequently found that there were rudimentary organs which did not develop ; thus the calf bad teeth on the upper jaw that did not break through the skin. No doubt there bad been use for teeth at some time, but the animal having changed its habits, or class of food, the teeth became unnecessary, and only remained in a rudimentary condition. Some people can move their earn and scalp, and this he regarded as an indication of development from some animal which did so. He believed there was a great spirit' in the universe, but that not a something in the shape of man. If man was created God-like firet, how he must have degenerated ; if he waa evolved, to what height night he not rise. There had been a great deal said about missing links not having been discovered, hut geology was yet young. He was certain man did not end at death; that was a matter he had long placed on the shelf. It was by no means certain that brutes die, but he saw no reason why an inferior being should not give birth to a superior and spiritual, and that was the case with man who was essentially a religious being. To-night Mr Denton will lecture on " Minerals, Metals, Mining in General, aud Goldmining in Particular." A n alleged case of " lambing-down " on the part of a Dunedin hotelkeeper came before the EM. Court yesterday. The plaintiff asserts that he camp t> town with a cheque for some £40 odd, and after staying at the Newmarket Hotel for two days and a half, was informed that be had drank, or "shouted" away all but £13 of that amount. He refused to . take this. Then the hotelkeiper offered him £15, and eventually gave him £20. The defepce will he gone on with fo-day. Ma Denton will give his crowning leoture to-morrow evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. The lecture is an exceedingly interesting oue —•" The future of this planet, of man upon it, a* indioated by geology." Cuthbert McKellar, agent of the National Bank at Mosgiel, was committed for trial at Dunedin yesterday on a charge of embezzlement. Bail was allowed, himself in £400, and two sureties of £200. Hobatio Db Couboey Mabtjbiili was brought up at the New Plymouth Police Court yesterday on remand, charged with having at Opunake in Januiry last, stolen a breech-loading fowling piece the property of Her Majesty. The prisoner said Be exchanged the gun for one of his own. The prisoner was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. 1 Ay extraordinary general meeting of shareholders in the Martha company, Waibi, will be held on the 21st inst., to take into consideration the financial condition of the company. Mb E. H. Taylob will speak at the Oddfellows' Hall to-morrow evening on " Where are our dead friends now." The petition of the Borough relative to the gold revenue overpaid to the natives will be forwarded to Wellington to-day, to ba presented to the House by Mr Slieehan. It has been excellently engrossed by Mr W. H. Crick. ; ,- Thebe was a strong wind from the northweit during last night, accompanied by rain, thunder, and lightning. At times, the gusts were very violent. The weather is now rainy, chilly, and generally disagreeable.. A special meeting of the Borough Council will be held on Monday to consider what further steps shall be taken to forward the construction of the Thames Valley railway.