WAIROA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3757, 31 July 1883, Page 4

WAIROA.

[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. J July 18, 1883. Tho Frasertown school, which has been closed now for over two months, has been r«-opened, Mrs Hallett, a certificated teacher, having arrived by a late trip of the s.s. Maori. Once again is tho Wairoa loft without even the shadow of a medico, Dr Jackson having now taken his departue from among us. As an illustration of how the land transactions of the Maori profits him I may mention that one of those interested in the Mangataniwha block, (now the property of Mr McAlister) received £200 as his share. On arriving here from Napier he was required to satisfy the just demands of a longsuffering storekeeper, and to meet a few trifling things, such as judgments, etc. When the whole business was over the Maori had just £5 left, which probably went the same evening in ivaipiro to drown his reflections with regard to the cuteness of the pakeha in money matters. July 23. Tho annual meeting of the subscribers to the Wairoa Mechanics' Institute was held on Thursday evening, when the report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The latter showed a creditable balance of £28 odd. The retiring trusteos were re-elected, and votes of thanks passed to the treasurer (Mr Porter) and Mr Williams, secretary, for their exertions in the past. The bylaws were altered so as to make five pounds instead of five guineas qualify for a life member. It was also decided to fix the annual subscription to the library and reading-room at £1, or 5s 6d for a quarter. Tho rules of the Debating Society were nltored so as to admit of political questions being taken up, religion being now tho only subject excluded. It was decided to get more books and periodicals, and to send a letter to the proprietors of the leading newspapers asking for files. It was mentioned that the Daily Telegraph was supplied to several local institutions in Hawke's Bay, and that if applied to on behalf of the Wairoa Mechanics' Institute a copy might bo sent.

On Sunday tho Bishop of Waiapu preached to a full church in St. Paul's, on the occasion of a confirmation held by His Lordship. After the sermon, which had special reference to the coming event, the Bishop performed the rite of confirmation on seven candidates, all females. It is reported that the Wairoa Harbor Board Endowment Bill has gone wrong, and a meeting has been called for this afternoon to decide what steps shall be taken in tho matter.

Tho annual mooting of St. Paul's Church parishioners was held on Friday, the Bishop of Waiapu in the chair. The usual reports and balance-sheet were read and adopted, tho latter showing a balance on tho wrong sido of tho lodger of over £7. The retiring Churchwardens were re-elected, and the following vestry appointed for the ensuing year: —Messrs Sargisson Bros., Gardiner, Williams, Waite, Powdrell, Sargent, and Steer. Votes of thanks were conveyed (1) to the retiring church-wardens, (2) to tho Rev. W. Goodyoar for his ministrations during tho year, (3) to tho ladies for the tea, (4) to Mr Penty for his services as layreader, and lastly to the Bishop for his kindly visit. It has been decided to open the Mechanics' Institute ovcry night, several gentlemen having offered to take charge of the readingroom from 7 to 0 p.m. There is rather a scarcity of female servants in the district at present, there being now half-a-dozen places vacant in town and country. lam glad to be able to state that Mr Harmcr (who I recently stated was seriously ill) has taken a turn for tho better, and Is now progressing towards recovery. Tho Mechanics' Institute was crowded on Thursday night on tho occasion of the promised debate by Mr T. Lambert on "Alcohol in Health and Disease." Ho read a carefully compiled essay, touching first on the origin and subsequent history of "wine" down to its distillation. Ho then detailed tho action of alcohol on tho human body in health and disease, enumerating nearly all the affections which arc caused by alcohol, and quoting eminent medical men in supportof his contention that alcohol was decidedly injurious. Ho gave a digest of MiRead's book, "Study and Stimulants," which contained tho written testimony of oho hundred eminent men against tho use of alcohol in health. Mr Lambert then summarised the essay, averring that alcohol was neither a heat producer, a force producer, a food, or a stimulant. A long dobato ensued, Messrs Largo and I. U. Sargission speaking in favor of moderate drinking, and the Rev. Goodycar, Messrs Williams, Penty, G. Flint, and Waite against the use of alcohol. One speaker said ho had drunk as much whiskey as would drown the essayist, and it had nover hurt him (query); another said ho thought a good drunk sometimes was a very good thing (query also). Mr Williams said his own personal experience in health and in sickness was against alcohol. Mr Sargisson quoted Sir William Gull (from memory) in favor of alcohol, and Rev. Mr Goodyear quoted him against. Mr Largo quoted a number of medical men in favor of alcohol as a food, a drink, and a medicine. Dr. Gardiner, ho asserted, had declared that total abstainers had failed to prove that alcohol shortened life. A number of others having spoken, Mr Lambert replied rof utingmany of tho arguments put forward by Mr Large, quoting Richardson to prove that alcohol was not a food, and Dr. Willard Parker, of New York, actuarial surgeon, who declared that tho average life of the alcohol drinker was only worth a little over 34 years. A vote of thanks to the essayis concluded tho meeting

July 25

Tho Wairoa Harbor Board held a special meeting on Monday. It was understood from Mr Allan McDonald, M.H.R., that the Government had refused leave to introduce the Harbor Board Endowment Bill. It was then resolved to direct Mr McDonald to cut out the Ruakittire block endowment clause, and to push the Bill on the lesser endowment clauses. Mr McDonald has also been asked to insert a clause empowering v vote to be struck for harbor improvement purposes ivp to three-eighths of a penny in the £L on the ratable value.