The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1871.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 559, 25 October 1871, Page 2

The Evening Star.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1871.

" For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

We are glad to see that at last it has been resolved to make some nccommodation for the San Francisco Mail boats, and that the Harbour Board has resolved on laying down moorings. We cannot sympathise with the feeling that suggested the possibility of this accommodation being soon unnecessary from the cessation of the mail service.^ If this chicken-heartedness had characterised the present Government, neither Hall's line or the present magnificent service would have beeii launched. New Zealand bus boldly ventured and vanquished tivater difficulties in connecfcion with this service already than anything likely to come, j and we do not hesitate to say that not mere moorings, but the more satisfactory accommodation of wharfage will be imperatively demanded ere long for the Trans-PaciGc steamers.

The Diocesan Synod of the Church of England held its second day's sittings yesterday afternoon, in the Bishop's Library, the Right Rev. Bishop Oowie presiding. A great amount of interesting and valuable work was gone through, a report of which we regret we. are unable, for want of space, to furnish.- The details being, however, so fully published in the morning papers, render such report from us unnecessary. The sittings will be resumed this afternoon, at four o'clock.

His Honor the. Chief Justioe.was pC-nipi®" the whole-ofthis morning (in,l Banco) -with t c argument upon demurrer to the declarati a in the case of Macfarlane and another vHarris, being an offshoot of the celebrate ease of Mold v. Craig. The present action wa 8 to recover certain .timber logs assigned by Craig, and which were seized by Harris immediately after the trial. The defendant demurred to tho declaration on the ground that Craig could not assign to Maclarlane. VTr. MacCormick appeared to support the demurrer, and was heard at the last sitting in Banco .before the -Circuit Court.: Mr. Hesketli" was heard this morning in support of the declaration. The argument had not concluded when we wont to press.

We would particularly direct the attention of our readers, and especially those resident in'.Parnell. to'the soiree to be held in the Public Hall of that suburb to-morrow evening. . The object is rtiost praiseworthy, na'inely, to raise funds for the library of the Presbyterian Sabbath School of Parnell, and we have no doubt that both the object and the entertainment to be provided will attract an excellent attendance.

.We understand -that Messrs. A. Clark and Son were the successful tenderers for the purchase of the stock in the estate of MA T. H. Hall.

A speoial njeetingof the Auckland Rowing Oliib will be held this evening at the Club Room, Thames Hotel.

Tbe settled state of the weather has at last justified the Foreman, of. Works in re-com-mencing the formation of the footpath on Constitution Hill. The handrails have been for some lime in a state of readiness to be erected, so that we may hope the whole of this highly necessary work will be finished in a week or two.

In the divided administration of the affairs of this much governed district, it is difficult to say to what body corporate, or individual, over Cbatnerß. But the gross indecency of the present system of bathing demands somebody's interference. Not merely lads but full grown men are to be seen constantly exposing themselves in absolute nudity along our foreshore at various peints, with a recklessness oi appearances that seems warranted by usage. Everyone that has travelled a little knows j how much better they manage those things on the Continentof Europe. There, whether on the open beach or in public baths, men are invariably oompelled when bathing to wear drawers, the absence of which from our British bather, is regarded among his. Cantinental rieinhbourfl as one of tlie evidences of his barbarous character. These little calgons cost about a franc, and in/no way impede1 swimmiijg, and the freedom wi'h which the public promenade in tbe neighborhood of bathers is a pleasant contrast to the gross indecency with which women and children ■ are liable at any moment to be insulted by the scandalous exposure Which our customs allow. liow that summer is at hand, we would call tbe attemion of some of our many authorities to the subject. Even inside the • baths such indecency should not be allowed, and we should like to see the matter,tested ip the Police Go'urtj whether ev'eh under existing laws and by laws the offence is not punishable. We hope, however, that a rule might be made public on the subject, and that the liberty of the Briton to do indecent things by prescriptive right will be curtiaifed. '. '• J Some people have odd'notions of the powers exercised by the terrors of the law. On yesterday we inserted a pamgrapbf respecting an omnibus which had been driven at a tremendous pa^e through, the public streets, ' name nor'description of the driver was given, the man unluckily beingutterly unknown.to the writer. In the afiernoon, a person, probably the driver, called at our office in a fever of excitement„and haying a mpst^beltigej-ent aspect, and| g^jfid^ng^lJeCli&meJ *>(-'- tlie writfe1, rthreatened that we should receive a lawyer .Yetter in the morning. Being accus tomed to this style of thing, we preserve our equanimity. But when on the subject, we do raise pur .protest at the utter indifference to life and limb manifested by many drivers in this city. It is not usually 'bus drivers that transgress, nor yet cab drivers, but spring carts, and bakers' carts, ,and vehicles of that kind,..£re,'daßbed/*in and; out of entries arid passagesyandoVei*- crossings, and around the corners of streets, in a manner that is really outrageous. We do wish the police would bring some of these people before Mr. Beckham. Some people, when they get the ribbons in their hands, evidently look down op foot-passengers as baser mortals, and; consider that it ;is their business °to clear out of the way. We should greatly desire to see an example made of our reckless Jehus.

Last evening a meeting of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society was held at the Young Men's Christian Association, the special subject of the evening being" Woman's Rights, considered from a teetotal point of view." The Rev. Peter .Mason occupied the chair. There was a very large attendance. It was expected that Mrs. Oolclough (POlly Plum) and Mrs. Walters would have been present to take part in the discussion, but the former lady sent an apology, stating that she was suffering from a bad cOld, which would prevent her doing justice to the subject. Mrs. Watters, however, spoke on; the question at issue, which she treated in a very earnest and able manner, pointing out the great wrongs suffered by worhen through the too liberal use of intoxicating drinks'by men. Several gentlemen also spoke on the same subject, and. the;discussion was exceedingly interesting throughout :v L<". ■'

LECTURE BY CAPTAIN PEEK. ' Majsty of the friend a of Captain Peek having expressed it desire to hear fuller details of the exceedingly interesting lecture, delivered by that gentleman, on Monday evening, we publish the following outline. As stated by us yesterday, the lecture was delivered in the'Edwardesstreet M etbodist Chapel, on tbe subject of" Incidents in his experience, by Sea and Land. There was an excellent attendance, and great interest was testified in the proceedings. The meeting opened by singing and prayer. Joseph Newman, Esq., occupied the chair. The chairman introduced the lecturer with a few prefatory remarks. He said it ..gave him. very great pleasure to occupy the chair on an occasion like the present." ■ The meeting was called for a two-fold purpose. Firstly, to give a hearty farewell to their esteemed friend and brother, Captain Peek, on the eve of his departure for England, t^e condly, to help to liquidate the debt upon the place of worship, also the minister's residence, which had recently been fitted up, at a considerable expense. All this had to be oaid for, and he was glad to see that so many availed themselves of this opportunity, and thus, by their presence, showed their sympathy. His duty tonight was formally to introduce Captain Peek, but he thought ,this unnecessary,' as it should be rather Captain Peek that should introduce him. However, be rested assured that tbe lecturer would have clos^atten-j tion, and that a profit by to-night's proceedings would accrue to all. Captain Peek then came forward atnid great and continued applause, and said he fejjtlit his highostobjeofinIfifelo do all the good hi? could to his fellow man while here below, that his reward might bejfeifchMjtjta the world to come. He divided his discourse into two parts—from his cljildhpol to his conversion (which was at 27 years of age), and from.that time to the present. Some thirty years ago (he well remembered the time), his father and mother brought him from the dull monotony of a small village in England ,tp London., He was at that time a very little boy, full of the buoyant hopes of happy childhood. He ha 1 never gone very far from what be called his home, but now new scenes were flashing before him. He arrived, and was^ ol course conducted to the house of G-od, and God's holy word was made to fasten upon his heart. He learnt that there were black faces in the world as well a> white, and that the Lord was the protector of each, and all the world was under bis guiding hand. New hopes nowsprang 'up in his mind, and he longed to see the country where these black faces dwelt. He returned home, but new thoughts of visiting far off lands were uppermost in his mind. Home had seemed to lose all its charms, compared with other lands He resolved to go to sea, and he acted upon his first impulses." He had arrived at about fifteen years of age, the time when most of all in one's life one should not despise the restraints of a wellregulated home. He'mustered up;all his courage, and informed his parents of his intention and desire to go to sea. : His father, but above all his mother, was far from feeling reconciled to bis requestAfter much importunity, his wish was acceded to, but along with him, a -om_- *{,;,.« .^n,^ «"«* '«*»-- f" «*Uc<? k and *8 regulate his actions, and motives, and that was his mother's prayers. These followed him by sea and by land, in the storm, or when a deep sleep had fallen, as it were, npo'n nil nature ; when tempted and tried, when his principles were at stake, in fact, under nocircumstances what ever was he found that his mother's voice did not seem' to be present. This mother knew and felt that she had a nobler guide,'to whom she Could with confidence entrust the safekeeping of her son. She gave him up to Providence, and always tore him up in the arms of faith and prayer, that God would watch over her son in hid perilous undertaking. The time came when he was to tenr himself from ali whom he loved dearly upon earth.;/. This was done aSwell'as he could, never betraying for a moment the deep; feelings of his" heart. He arrived in i.ondon, .and there began ; to grope his way as best lie could, amid every thing that was strange to A him. He was looking for ..the docks, but he could make no headway, ;as he.had • completely lost himself, and had to call to bis! assistance the knowledge of a policeman, wh.p. soon put.him. oii.,,the. right track, ', Here he engaged himself.-.to-: a captaip, as cabin.-bpy in a vessel bound to; Hdbart Town. To his mind, hia ship was so great; that jhe could not attempt to describe.it. Everything seemed to bespeak prosperity. His.first efrand; was to go for a'pot of ale for the captain. He might, have been seen, with jug in one hah'd and a sixpence in'-the other,-'skipping- merrily along, every now and their stopping, and looking and adttfiKbg 'thi^sliip-iind that ship, r-ipidjyjoadjng orrunlp/iding,. almost', forgetting that he was on an prrand. 13ut he at last got back slifel^,' and though he had; staid so.long, the captain fol-gave^him this time, as he was new to the place and work.-^JH^praft-afc length began to showsigns of readiuessnfor -sea ;.'sho!:glided silently and surely down the stream, .and was ferjTsoon out of sight of bind. His passage was scarcely As delightful'ai'he at first, anticipated,. , Adverse, wi'ids, .and/ ;wavesc'did^well: their'jjartj ahd1 tbbl-gli He" •encountered dangers, ;, w.biqhy seemed almost insurmouht'able,...y.et^.in the providence of God, he ( agaip put his .foot.uponi the shores' .of'.ljis ,na l tiye_land.i, When he arrived on; sljore he 1935 no time, but set his faqe hpmewardy He thought to take his ;pareht3. : aud aM his friends .by surprise. It wis upon the \ahbath,. and as he drew near to , the house, he was -met by a femalein the village, who knew him well, and she hastened to break first the news to his parents. Every one in the place was in the little chapel, and so great was the eagerness of this woman to tell about his return, that she could not wait, but 'placing herself at the door, she called out?,; '/Mr. Peek, your Bob's come home." Strange as it may appear, this.completely upset; the service, and one began to come out, and then another,, until at length.the whole place was empty. In the meantime,'he had run as fast as he could, so that he might evade the welcomes of bis friends, and was soon found to be fast asleep to all appearance. :He amiised himself right heartily at.the questions which ; were asked about him, and when all was oyer, and he li£id seen for,.a short time the place and friends, he began to

grow weary, and he was soon found at sea again. The lecturer, in his own peculiarly graphic manner, dwelt eloquently upon his trials and besetments. He had visited almost every land, and had known storm and shipwreck, yet, by the good Providence of God, he was still upon the way that he had stated, when he gave, his heart to God.. Nothing in the world could have kept him, amidst the perils which beset him on every hand, if he had not takea God for his guide. His constant aim and object in bio was, not merely to live to himself, bat ever to be found performing well the work that God had called him to. His missionary-labours among every people with which he.came in contact, proved that God honoured bis efforts, and that many through him were brought safely home. His constancy and Christian deportment exhibited amongst his men. and nil who knew him, -testified;that "The Christian is the highes..style of man," and that those who are found trusting in Providence shall.never want One to watch. He ever made it his first duty to reprove sin, and though this was hard at first, yet, the habit grew with him, and he had been an instrument of reclaiming scores from an evil life, and leading them to the Saviqur. His reminiscences of the power that She Gospel had upon the heart of the savage was touching, teaching that none are too dark or y fallen but the >Word of G-od may reach. . The lecture was about an hour and '.'a-half in delivery, :and was so diversified with pictures of 'every day life, that'hiaiaudience sometimes almost .fancied that they saw the scenes before theba, and were ever and anon led back to the lessons to be learnt by each, that if wq mean to be gooii we must do good. The meeting was enlivened bj- a few selections of music by the choir propared for the occasion!*— On the motion of Mr. Goldie, a vote .of thanks was awarded to':Captain P«sek "for his very interesting lecture. Also; CO.upled with this, was a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was responded to and carried by acclamation. The meeting then sang the doxology, and closed.