CORONER’S INQUEST.

Auckland Examiner, Volume 1, Issue 40, 17 September 1857, Page 3

CORONER’S INQUEST.

The Coroner's Jury aisemlled at the William Denny Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 8, to inquire as to the cause of the death of Philip White, a private of the 58th Regiment, returned as their verdiet:—“ That the deceased, Philip White, died of apoplexy, caused by drinking an excessive quantity of ardent spirits. At the same time they think it their duty to record their reprehension of the practice, too generally pursued, of supplying intoxicating drinks to parties in a state of intoxication.” MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE. Lecture on Total Abstinence : its Benefits, and Claims upon human sympathy. Enthusiasm betrays men into extremes. The enthusiastic declaimer against war would have peace at any price, which means a price no rational being will be inclined to pay. The enthusiastic declaimer against the “ tyranny of capital” would persuade us that all property is theft, and usher in the worst tyranny of all—the tyranny of those who have no capital. All experience teaches that wisdom lies mid-way between extremes, or to say all in one word, in moderation. Ancient philosophers taught that the medium path is the path of wisdom. Mr. George M'Caul sets at nought such teaching. Having made up his mind that Total Abstinence would cure all ills “ flesh seems heir to,” he insists upon making Total Abstinence the sine qua non of morals. No greater mistake could be made. Temperance is one thing—• Total Abstinence another. A man may entirely abstain from strong drinks without, being eithei- a patriotic citizen or a good man; but no man ean be temperate in all things without being virtuous. We therefore distinguish between the man who is temperate in all things and the total abstainer, who would regulate what men should drink by Act of Provincial Council or General Assembly. Drunkenness is disgusting. No human vice more odious. The confirmed drunkard sinks humanity beneath the level of the brute. All reasonable people acknowledge that: lecturing to convince them of that is sheer waste of words. In olden time the citizen who waxed eloquent in praise of Hercules, was stopped short by the question—Who said anything against Hercules? When Mr. M'Caul so lustily praised temperance and denounced drunkenness, we felt inclined to ask— Who praises drunkenness,. or breathes a sentence against temperance ? What thoughtful people desire to know is the way to make our population temperate in all things. On that point Mr. George M'Caul was silent He eloquently depicted the horrors of intemperance, and had no mercy upon publicans, but failed to show the " excellent way” by which the people of this Province could be made temperate in all things. At close of Mr. M'Caul’s Lecture Mr. Firth made some excellent observations; Mr. Southwell followed, and the audience separated in mood far more mirthful than serious.