The Dunstan Times. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1868.

Dunstan Times, Issue 346, 11 December 1868, Page 2

The Dunstan Times.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1868.

BeneaththeUuleof MenESTiEELY just the pen' is mightier than thesNVORD.

The iirel'igenc" contained in the letter of our Likes correspondent, which appears in another portion of our columns, of the death in one night of two men, at Queenstown, from the -'ffects of over-indulgence in intoxicating liquors, is something awful to contemplate, and we cannot help asking ourselves how it is that men in the pride of their strength and manhood have allowed the demon of "strong drink" to obtain such a mastery over them, an 1 even to demand their lives at their hands] One of these sacrifices to the shrine of Bacchus was well known at Clyde and Cromwell. The same may be said of the other only in a lesser de gree ; and when we come seriously to contemplate that two human beings hive been swept off the face of nature, besides others who have bccome inmates of a lunatic asylum through ovcT-intlii-gen.ee in intoxicating liquors, we naturally inqu're the cause, and ask to what are we drifting, or how \icious is the state of society in which we are living! That something should be done to stay the tide of intemperance that is so rapidly setting in upon us is of paramount importance ; but, whether such should be accomplished by legi lative enactment or by the moral courage and example of those who still preserve their self-respect as sober thinking men, is a question difficult tu deal with. Perhaps, the force of persuasion of one, coupled with the cocrsivc measures of the oth°r, would be most effectual, and we really opine that such would be the case. The time has now arrived when the sale of intoxicating drinks should be brought within proper and defined limits, and under jealous supervision

We oftentimes hear it urged in defence of so much spirit-selling and grog-drinking that the Customs duties are largely benefited ; also that it affords employment to a considerable number of persons, and the prosperity of the country is thereby promoted. The only one ..nswer to this is, that, if the prosperity of the country is built upon such a rotten fabric, it is better that it should cense fo be prosperous. There is, however, little need for this ultimatum, as wo never hear on the other side what it costs in keeping up expensive gaol and lunatic establishments, together with a large staff of police and other officials, which might, to a very great extent be dis pensed with were the consumption of into Seating beverages less, leaving alone what the country loses by the loss of the services of those whom drink incapaeitatesfromlabor orwhoso lives become forfeited by their excesses. In ridding ourselves of an evil we naturally, before proceeding to do so, first inquire its cause, and, in this case, we have not far to look. The root lies in the facilities a 1 d the e se with which men, not having a proper control over' their passions, can get drink supplied to them, and the allurements held out to them to obtain it. The indiscriminate licensing

of public-houses is one cause, the permitting so many illicit dealers in spirits another, and we really can have no hesitation in saying that the Provincial Government of Otago, by their greed for revenue, even at the expense of the morals of the people, should Vie he'd responsible for the deaths of those two unfortunate beings over whose swollen and festering bodies the Coroner at Queenstown held inquests on Saturday last.

The system of dram-drinking shouting which has ta'-en such a hold upon the peop'e of this province, is a most pernicious habit, the evil effects of which are everywhere making themselves more and more apparent, and the painful illustrations recorded in our Queenstown correspondent’s letter are by no means isolated cases. They have only forced themselves promine fly into notice because they occurred simultaneously —singular i stances of men, liberal y educated, and who should have been ornament-- to society, meeting with untimelv deaths from an inordina‘e desire for alcohol have resulted times out, of number. Taking tbn cases just enumerated, with those who from a like cause find themselves inmates of the lunatic asylum, and include those whose excesses have led ‘hem to commit depredations upon society, and who crowd our gaols, wo may well exclaim : “ Oh, that some apostle o f temperance might arise, a"d save us from the impending dangers with which we are threatened !” In almost eveiy transaction of dai’y lifo the system—using a colonial phrase—of “ shouting” drink is bad recourse to, and, whether we buy or sell or make contracts, the penalty of each party to the bargain, poisoning to a certain extent both his mind and body, ivoluntarlly submitted to. We repeatedly hear from the advocates of the dram drinking system that “ It’s all fertile good of trade!” It is no such thing. Money expended iu the purchase of spirituous liquors when

such are unnecessary, is only money wasted, and might as well be thrown in the sea. The on'y persons benefited are those through whose hands the liquors pass. The prime cost is lost to the country, bebcciiuse they are imported articles and of fortign manufacture, and there can be very little doubt but that, if four-fifths of those persons who get thoir living by selling “ grog” were to find employment in some reproductive undertaking, both themselves and the community at large would be materially advantaged. It must not be supposed that, because men mi.ht object to expend 1 heir gains in the public-house or grog-shop, that they would hoard them, for, were less intoxicating drinks drunk, more money would be laid out upon better descriptions of food and clothing, people wou'd ride who now walk, and our churches, libraries, schools, theatres, lecture and concert rooms would be better patronised; more farms would be brought into cultivation and gardens planted ; present hove's would be transformed into comfortable dwellings ; the herds of live stock would be largely increased, and the population of our towns and villages woul!, as a matter of course, bo correspondingly increased. Could brandy, gin, rum, and whisky be only represented by happy homes and blooming fields and gardens, well-clothed and welleducated men, women, and children, it would bo superfluous to speculate as to how much happier we all might be. The present state of society, with regard to its large consumption ot spirituous liquors, is something alarming, and claims the attention of all right-minded and thinking men. The Government, by the indiscriminate granting of publicans’ licenses, and likewise permitting the evissonco of such a legion of illicit vendors of spirits to so openly and unblushingly carry on their nefarious trade, is the primary cause of the monstrous evil which is sapping tho very life’s blood of the population. Stimulants are doubtless almost as necessary as the food we eat, but their use is one thing, and their abuse is

another. Tho publican, wloee trade

is a legitimate one, is as worthy and useful a member of society as any other business man, but his calling is open to be abused, and such i-* recognized by the fact of his trade being a permissive one, in that he is called upon to pay a heavy license fee for carrying on business, he is also required to find proper accomodation for his customers, the travelling public, as well as find sureties for his good conduct. The strict carrying out of the Licensing Ordinance, would most assuredly do much towards mitigating the evil of drunkennessamongst a large portion of our population, anil were only respectable men with re ■ pectahle houses permitted to hold licenses, and a rigorous crusade carried on against the sellers of “ sly grog ’’ we might hope for some ame'ioration of existing difficulties. Let the Government do their duty, and per force of example, the people will not be slow in doing theirs.

In the Resident Magistrate,s Court, Cromwell, on Wednesday last, bc'ore Vincent Pxko, Esq. R.M. and R Longhnan Ksq., JP, two Chinamen were charged by Sergeant Cassells, with having sold a parcel of spurious gold to Mr. John Hallidiy. The Bench refused to enter into the case, as the General Government Interpreter, Mr, Rlewitt was not present, and in order to secure his attendance, the prisoner, were remanded for seven days. In the Warden’s Court, Godhead and party summoned V. Barnes and party, for causing tailings to run in*o Plaintiff’s tail and head races, damages £ls After hearing the evidence, the Warden decided that the defendants'll id aright to water, and to work i i the locality prior to the Plaintiffs openi g their claim, known as the Rip and Tear, and therefore dismissed the case, and ordered each party to pay its own expenses.

A me ting of the Cromwell Town Council was held on the 7th hj st. The

Mayor and full Council were present. Tlie minutes of previous meeting were read and confirmed. A telegram was read fiom his Honor the Superintendent, to the effect that, the Government knew nothing of the removal of the Clerk to the Court. A letter was road from his Honor the Superintendent, stating that the Government will not bo in a position to give the double subsidy next year. The Town Clerk was authorized to acknowledge correspondence, also to write to His Honor, tho Superintendent, inform-

ing him that, it is tin wish of th • inhabitants that the Miyor should be appointed Justice of the Peace, and requesting his Honor to communicate with llis Excellency the Governor rcspeclh g the appointment, also to write to his Honor the uprrinteiulent praying that a new Court-house be built at Cromwell, as the present one is most inconvenient and unsuitable for the requirements of the District. A rate of Is. 6d. in the £. on the assessment, for the year was agreed to The report of Mr. G. Beesley, Surveyor on Nevis Hoad, having been handed in and read, it. was resolved that, Contracts be cal’rd for in the Dunstan Tims s 'ce advertisement A vote of thanks to the Chair terminated the meeting.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Clyde Town Council was held on the 9th instant. Councilor Atkins in the Chair. After the minu'es of the previous meeting had been read and confirmed, and the correspondence read, a motion that, t c outward correspondence be adopted, was Did on the table ; the Chairman, through s--me misconception, refused to put it to the meeting, upon w ich, a lengthy discussion took place, but the Chairman still persisting, the meeting was adjourned. We had an opportunity of inspect, ing the new Ball-room lately attached to the Cromwell hotel, Cromwell, by the enterprising proprietor, Mr Eobt. Kidd ; the room, we must say, is the best wo have seen on any goldfield Town in the Province, the internal arrangements are on a most superb scale, no expense having been spared. As a ball for dancing, it is most excellent, 1 ut it. is unexcelled for mnsic t as every attention his been mvdo to vender sound, sweet and harmonious The room is 50 feet by 25 fort in the clear, with excellent ventilate m ; it ■will be lighted by two chandeliers and a nnml>or of side lamps, well ar ranged.

We would remind our readers' that Vincent Pyke Esq., will deliver a Lecture at the School-house, Clyde, this evening, in aid of the School Prizes, Subject, “ A night with some dead Lions.” As the subject of the lecture is one in which all must take a lively interest, we hope to see a crowded room.

The nominations for the offices of Auditor and Councillor, for the Corporation of Clyde, rendered vacant by the resignation of Mr. George Clarke, and Mr. M'Connochie took place at the Town Hall, on Friday last; there being but one nomination for Auditor, Mr. George Fuche was duly elected ; for Councillor, Mr, Petersen Beck and Mr. James terson were duly nominated. On Wed-

nesday last the poll took place, and resulted in the election of Mr. Patterson by a majority of three votes. At a meeting of the Waste Lands Bo rd, Mr. Mouat, on behalf of R. E. Dagg applied to purchase sections 1 and 2, Bock 3, Township of Cromwe 1; the application was granted, subject to the production of a miner’s right. The petition from the Roman Catholics of Cromwell to purchase an Acre of ground for Church purposes, also presented by Mr. Mouat, was acceded to. The application for lease of Mill Site, at Hayes Creek, the Board intimated would be granted, if no objection was lodged after aiLer-ti-emnnt.

A meeting of the Clyde Church cf England Committee was held in the Secretary's office, on Friday evening last, the 4th instant, Vincent Pyke, Esq., President and live m< nib'-rs were present. After the minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed, the Secretary brought up correspond' nee from the Queenst-iwu Church Committee, su■getting that, the Lakes and Dunstan Districts should be formed i ito a Pastoral Dis tiict under one Resident Clergyman ; also a letter from the Rev. Jlr. Oldham, of .Southland, intimating that a Clergyman, the Rev. Mr. Coffey would shortly arrive in the Province from England, and recommending him to the Committee. A lengthy discussion ensued on both letters, ultimating in a resolution (hit, the idea of combining the two Dis'riots met the approva 1 of the Committee, lint that definite arrangements he deferred ; in the meantime to invite the Rev. Mr. Coffey to visit the District, after which steps would be taken towards his settlement, if the District suited him, and he it. The President stated that, when in Dunedin, he had in obedience to a resolution pissed at the hist meeting, waited on the Waste Lands Board, and arranged for the purchase of the Church reserve. The following gentlemen were appointed Trustees, Messrs Pyke. Ifaz!ett and Christophers. The Secretary was authoriz d to remit to the Receiver of i and Revenue, a draft, to complete the purchase together with the names of the Trustees, so that the Crown Grant should bo prepared forthwith. The Treasurer's report laid on the table, showed the Committee to be in debi, •34/. A vote of thanks was recorded to the Choral Society, also to the Cemetery Committee, for donations of •Sacred music, and Thorn quicks, after which the meeting separated, w th a vote of thanks to the Chair.

In the Supreme Court Sitting in Banco, an Order was made to confirm the proposed sale of the 'csidue of the in;estate estate of Mr. Thomas Shauky, of Cromwell, for the sum of 225/. - to Mr '■ illiam Sh mley. Mr. H. Smythics, Barrister and "olicifor, was charged before the Resident Magistrate’s Court, Dunedin, on the inlbrmatio ■ of Mr. John Jones with a breach of the “ Law Practitioners’ Act Amendment Act, 1 SoG. The Bench after hearin; the evidence imposed a penalty of 500/., and 1. 5.6 d., Costs.