ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.. {To the Editor of the Southern Cross.)

Daily Southern Cross, Volume I, Issue 23, 23 September 1843, Page 3

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. (To the Editor of the Southern Cross.)

Sir, — In consequence of the many and repeated enquiries which have recently been made from the friends of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society, and especially with a view to meet the wishes of several most respectable inhabitants of this city, it may not be improper or ill-timed to answer as briefly as possible several of the above named queries through the medium of 3 r our valuable ' paper. Your allowance of this indulgence will not only be valued by the friends of the said society, but may prove also not entirely ' destitute of interest in the estimation of parties for whose perusal these lines are especially intended. The question has been repeatedly asked, if the Mechanics' Institute and the Total Abstinence Society might not be united to each other. — It may be answered that, notwithstanding the advocates of total abstinence societies arc highly favourable to the forma- j tion of mechanics' institutes, and that tho members of the one are very frequently mem- ' bers of the other, yet that it would not be consistent, neither are they at liberty to devote the monies winch have been subscribed to the total abstinence society to any other purpose than what are directly or indirectly connected with the objects of the said society, and that were the building erected to bo sold, in order to carry out the suggestion in question, it would cause a most censurable waste as well as misapplication of the public monies, neither has the total abstinence society any right or power to enforce the transfer of its members to the mechanics' institute, tho becoming members of which must be in every instance a personal act. We would however most cordially recommend the mechanics' institute to our temperance friends, and have no doubt that many will enroll their names as members when the aft'airs of this country shall revive. In answer to other enquiries respecting the propriety of total abstinence, we should say — that when persons are in the enjoyment of health, spiritous and fermented liquors are not requisite, and that the taking of them unnecessarily in health is not only highly unfavourable to speedy recovery in subsequent cases of sickness, but oftentimes brings disease and very frequently terminates in premature death. — That if under any remarkable circumstances which may possibly occur to a person in delicate health, tho said spirituous and fermented liquors might be used with a view to the prevention of disease, the cases are very iew in which other more harmless remedies might not be used with a larger measure of advantage, and to inen. in full health they are scarcely requisite on any occasion whatever That the taking of spirituous and fermented liquors, when the constitution of a person is naturally unhealthy, or rendorod so by sedentary or other unnatural habits, or even when ap-

parently accidentally the subject of sickness, the use of the said stimulants 'are very questionable remedies, aud are better met by a suitable regimen conjoined with the natural stimulus of healthful exercise. — That the said spiritous and fermented liquors partake more of the nature of medicine than a beverage, even when in their most pure states, but are often most perniciously adulterated, destroying to a great extent their properties even as medicines, and rendering them highly deleterious in their effects, and that the taking of medicines as substitutes for our proper sustenance must bo a most unnatural and pernicious custom. — That whatever might bo tho supposed or real pleasure or advantage derived from the use of spiritous and intoxicating drinks, if tho results sooner or later directly or indirectly are so seriously disadvantageous either in one form or another as to overbalance the supposed or real pleasure or advantage, it becomes the duty and interest of such an individual at once and without delay to practice tho principle of entire abstinence. — That vast numbers of persons of all classes and persuasions commence the said intoxicating drinks as they suppose in a temperate manner, are gradually led astray before they are aware, continually filling up tho ranks of the drunkards, notwithstanding the great numbers who become their own executioners, and fall victims to their intemperate habits, clearly showing that the only sure way of preventing drunkenness is the principle of total abstinence. — ' That supposing any individual is safe from tho excesses of intemperance, this safety is only known as the result of long continued trial, and tho practice of entire abstinence on the part of such a person would not only be surely safe for himself, but may be most highly advantageous in the way of example to his weaker fellow -men, which at all times would be a source of heartfelt pleasure to a benevolent mind. In reply to objections against Total Abstinence Societies we would observe, — That while there is a great propriety in gentlemen acting upon the principle of entire abstinence, as the result of their conviction of the utility in various forms attendant upon this course, yet as " Union is strength," it is conceived that additional firmness of purpose is likely to be the result of the connexion of tho reformed drunkard with a total abstinence society, counterbalanced by another class of persons who have joined the society mainly for this purpose, all of whom have given their signatures to one common pledge with a special view to the obviation of invidious distinction?. The pledge is as follows: "I do voluntarily promise that I will abstain from Ale, Porter, Wine, Cider, Ardent Spirits, and all Intoxicating liquors, and will not give or offer them to others, except as Medicines or in a Religious Ordinance, and I will endeavour to discountenance tho causes and practices of intemperance." — That a total abstinence society is calculated to circulate information not only with a view to the prevention of drunkenness and the encouragement of sobriety, but also to prevent the recurrence of a thousand vices and evils , unto which drunkenness leads, or by which it is attended, and to encourage tho practice of the opposite virtues, with the pleasing hope of attaining unto tho good to which virtue tends, or by winch it is so frequently accompanied. — That while it is desirable to correct the vile and degrading habit of socking pleasure in drunkenness, it is just as desirable that we should endeavour to substitute pleasures bf a more virtuous and intel- j lectual character, and this important object can best be carried out by some judicious arrangements in connexion with a total abstinence society, rather intended to suggest the course proper to be pursued, than to meet all tho emergencies of the case which cannot possibly come within the province t>f a total abstinence society. — There is nothing \ of ostentatious display intended by the formation of total abstinence societies but the giving of the greatest possible encouragement by example, by precept and by union to tho work of reformation. Neither is it intended to circulate sectarian sentiments, or to supercede in any point tho inculcation of virtue on the part of Christianity. Tho Church of Christ of whatever denomination is or ought to bo a Total Abstinence Society from nn (at least in effort), and the most powerful advocate of temperance in all tilings. These were certainly part of tho great objects of the holy founder of the Christian religion, with which the principles of total abstinonce societies, consistently carried out, are in the most perfect unison. The brevity of these remarks will not permit us to enter upon this subject at large, having already occupied too much of the space of your important periodical, we would however recommend a candid perusal of some of the numerous and excellent publications which have issued from the press on this interesting subject. The sentiments embodied in the preceding remarks are the ideas so generally entertained by the members of the said society as perhaps to warrant the use in all in-

stances of the plural number in speaking on. behalf of their principles. Yours most respectfully, One op the Committee of tits Auckland T. A. Society. Sept. 20, 1843. [We have at all times much pleasure in | publishing as far as our limits will allow any | thing that tends to advance the moral improvement of ouv fellow-settlers. The above letter will recommend itself by its temperate and common sense tone to the understandings of all our readers, wo thorofore leave it to speak for itself. — Ed.] To the Editor of the Soutiiern Cross. Sir, — I beg to call your attention to an important subject, viz. : — the want of a mill to grind wheat, why should the little money there is in the colony bo drained out of it for supplies of that very important article from other colonies, when we can so amply supply ourselves ; and what encouragement is there to grow wheat here, when there is no market to send it to ? Apathy scorns to be tho order of tho day. We have the name of an Agricultural and Horticultural Society here, but I have never heard that such a thing as a windmill has even been thought of by them ; surely it is worth thinking of ; if some spirited person or persons would take the matter in hand directly, it would pay them well ; timber and labour will never bo cheaper than they are at tho present time. I am persuaded that in two years from this time, a sufficiency of grain would bo growu to supply tho capital. I am yours, &c, A Subscriber. [Wo have reason to hope that " a Subscriber's" wish regarding the erection of a Wind Mill will be soon gratified. We understand that a person is about coming from Sydney expressly for the purpose of erecting all >ur Mill in Auckland ; he merely waits for information regarding the prospect of tho undertaking. — Ep. ]