The Evening Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1874.

Evening Star, Issue 3660, 14 November 1874, Page 2

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1874.

The greatest sporting event of the year, us far as the Australasian Colonies arc concerned, has been decided. The Melbourne Cup has once more been won by a horse unknown to tame, and it has been again shown that whatever may bo the case with chariots, it is unwise to put one’s trust in horses. Haricot at the head of the poll, and Gold.shrough nowhere 1 Kaoing prophets, concoctoi’s of tips, et hoc <jcnus omuc have again been shown to be as capable of being utterly deceived as those who might be presumed to have less knov. lodge of such matters. Not that this will make any difference as far as next year's race is concerned. People will again bo found just as ready to back their own or other people’s opinions about horses as they have hitherto been : the maxim expertentia ducct evidently does not hold good in sporting matters. Perhaps it is well that this should be the case. If people grew wiser in the matter of horses as they grow older and more experienced, what would the book-makers do 1 How would they he able to build palatial residences, to feed on the fat of the laud, and to live without doing any manner of work 1 We are afraid that persons who object to betting on principle, as they call it, do not sufficiently take this into consideration ; still less do they remember the positive benefits that the betting fraternity coaler on the community. Human heincs, as well as all other organisms, have been, no doubt wisely, placed under those stern natural laws which have been called by Darwin, Wallace, and others “ the struggle for existence,” and “ the survival of the fittest.” It is certain that every young man, on going out into the world, has to grapple with and to overcome temptation of one kind and another before ho can take a permanent place in society. If it should turn out that he has nob sufficient stamina to resist these temptations, then he is not one of the fittest, and cannot expect to survive ; at all events he will have to betake himself to a position lower down in the social scale, -and so on till at last he reaches the place in the scale that suits him—in some instances this is the very bottom of it. Their perchance he becomes a book-maker or something of that sort himself, when he, in turn, will be able tovgivo others the inestimable benefit of his services in testing their powers of restraint. Thus it goes on. At last it is brought about that a considerable proportion of the weak, and foolish, and emptyheaded members of society are reduced to a status better suited to their dispositions and capabilities than that which they might have otherwise occupied. Now, what wo like about betting, and gambling generally, is that they accomplish this good work, in those who become slaves to them, with fargreater celerity and certainty than any other process which has been hitherto discovered.

It is truG that there are many porsons, nud these by no means straitlaced or narrow-minded, who are quite unconvinced by such arguments' as these—who liold that all gambling is radically and inherently bad, and not merely, like some other things, objec-

tionable on account of the effects it produces. Herbert Spencer is not generally considered to be over-sancti-monious or Pharisaical, but he condemns gambling for the reason that it involves and always must involve an attempt to get pleasure by and through another’s pain. Then, there are others who object to betting because it induces even in those who are otherwise uninjured by the practice, a distaste for steady, plod ding hard work, by which men acquire not only the good things of life, but one of the most invaluable of mental and moral habits—that of persevering industry. A man who has once won £IOO by a bet or in a sweep, it is said, will ever afterwards feel a certain contempt for the slow process of accumulating mere shillings and sixpences. According to this view of the case the greatest misfortune that can happen to a man is that he should win a large sum of money about a race. There are many other objections against betting that have been urged from time to time, but one of the most striking of all is that there is no fun in betting ; everyone allows that the practice produces intense excitement, but it is urged by man}’- that this* excitement is in no case of a pleasurable character. In many instances it is said a person bets because his friends do so. Next it occurs to him that he may gain money by betting: he invests more largely. Then follows anxiety lest he may lose a sum probably far larger than he can affud, alternating with a feverish hope of winning. When the event has been decided, if he has lost, the sense of his folly is a heavy burden to him for a long time ; if he has won, he feels, unless he is altogether callous and past praying for, so to speak, a sort of remorse at having been instrumental in causing mental suffering to the person whose money he has won. In all this, it is said, there is nothing that can be called pleasure. Those who hold this view look upon confirmed bettors much as they do upon incurable drunkards, viz., as persons who know that what they are about to do will bring them nothing but anxiety and trouble, but who nevertheless do it because they are the subjects of an uncontrollable monomania. We should think, however, that the mental anguish to be endured by a person who has won money from a bookmaker will hardly be very acute; at all events wo never knew any one who felt any very great compunction on this account. No doubt, however, a great deal may be said on both sides about this question of betting. It is certain that people must have some kind of excitement occasionally, even though it be not always pleasurable. Thousands of persons do make bets and do not go altogether to the bad, or even on the road to it. Possibly while it is done in moderation, and not made in any way a serious occupation, betting is not so very unholy a practice as some people seem to. imagine ;.but of this wo may be certain, that our noble national pastime owes all or nearly all its objectionable features to the betting which accompanies it, and that no thorough “ turf reformwill ever bo possible while so many unscrupulous persons are directly interested in making races result in some certain way. It appears to us that book-making is the real rock ahead, and that until public opinion puts it down, we must be contented with having our race meetings to a very large extent a cause of more or less social and moral pollution, which in themselves they need not by any means be.

Mr William Brown was last evening elected secretary of the Imperial Build n 1-ociety. We hear that the Church of St, Mat hew, in Stafford street, will bo opened on Thursday, the 3rd December. Notice of services will be duly given.

F.ovn a return showing the strength and number of the \ oluntcsr corps in each Province ou the 31st December last, wc find the total strength to have been G,9il ; of this number 1,311 were Cadets,

In 18/3 there were registered in New’Zealand 84 cases of twins, 2 of triplets, and 159 illegitimate births. The top scores in the latter particular were—Otago. 45 ; Canterbury, 49 ■ aud Auckland only 25, The only case at the Resident Magistrate’s Court. Port Chalmers, this morning, was a charge of drunkenness against Margaret Reid, which was dismissed with, a caution. Mr T. A. Hansford, R.M., presided. At the meeting of the directors of the Caledonian Society, last night, the progr •mmo for the forthcoming gathering submitted by the Sports Committee was approved. The sum of 1.330 is to In distributed in prizes this year, being nearly LIUO more than was given last year. In December last there were three fire brigades in Auckland, with a total of 49 men ; one in Grahamstowu of 25 ; one in Shortmud ef 22 ; one in New Plymouth of 27 ; one in Wanganui of 20 ; twm in Wellington of 84; two in Nels.in of 44; one in Christchurch of 40 ; one in Kaianoi of 2 ; one in Timaru of 18 ; one in Duuediu of 30.

The Maoris in Wanganui, considering the prices charged for admission to the Opera too high, made what appeared to be an attempt at opposition one day lately, Six or seven women were standing in one of. the streets yelling out some of their songs, some of their own color standing round admiringly. A cloud of dust sweeping past put a stop to their efforts. A singular accident occurred in Wellington a few evenings ago. A drunken fellow, name unknown, went into the shop of Mr Beavis, in Willis street, took up in his arms one of Ivl r Beavis’ children and began fond.ing it, finally taking ij; out into the street, where ho stumbled, and fell right on the unfortunate child, breaking its leg in two places. He then bolted, and no traces yet have been discovered of bis whereabouts.

It will be in the memory of most of our readers (says the ‘Wanganui Chronicle’ of November 5) that a Mr Bussell was shot in the ankle by a sentry at Westmere some six years ago, Tbe bullet was extracted at tbe

time, and the wound gradually healed up, but Mr Russell has ever since been subjected to inconvenience through a weakness ia the j nut. A few weeks ago the ankle swelled up so much that ho was unable to walk, when, to liia astonishment, a piece of his boot leather which had been driven in, and which had escaped observation when the bullet was extracted, was d s.marge 1 from the wound, since which be has beau able to walk much better, aod an icipndes soon being relieved from all inconvenience in connection with it.

A writer of a leading article in the Nelson ‘ Colonist’ of the 29th uit. is a goniu* at logic, fie thinks that a dock in the xelsou harbor must be a success, for ‘’there would be various circumstances connected with it wh cb would induce o a t.To of ships t.o come here (Aelsou) in pnfereoce to the docks of Auckland or Dunedin {sic ).” One of the logical arguments us. d and the main one —is set forth to be that the Nelson dock will be smaller, will therefore cost less, an] conaupieiuly “ we can charge less.” Another brilliant reason is given as being favorable to Kelson over Auckland or Dunedin, and that is that “ there arc more line days here than there!”

It is not often that a G -vernor of a British Colony resigns on the ground that the people over whom be is cadt d to rule are not lit for responsible government. This, how<. ver, ap--1 ears to have happened in ' atal. We have received a copy of a new African j urnal, tne hotul] African Mail,’of the 4i.li iSeptember last, pub ashed at Gape Town, and in it. wc find Ihe f d lowing paragraph “ Sir Benjamin i ice uas sent in his resignation as Lieut.-Governor of r a‘al The motive •vliiodi have prompted hj m to n-Vgu th-ro can be no good in ft cceating upon. Monow asserts -.bat Nafai is nt fit for rc rpomib o governnunt. and re igus.” Frotn C;vna we hea'- of Gli rini and Ids circus, where he has pecuni. : :ly done very well, but has lost some o the prominent members of his trou; e At Shanghai, on *ug ist S, Mr Lowland, the clown, di d from an acute attack of liver comp-lint ; and a week before Mdile Teresa, who hud been connected with the troupe for nine years, died. The late Mr Rowland was father of th it preco nous little equestrienne “Little Minihe,” win.se perfor cancel were a souico of ast mishmmit to all who witnessed them. Miss Mav Howard, the American ao ress. uho has made arrangements to pay Auckland a professional visit at an early date, is reported in a ydney telegram to hive been danueroudv ill on the 23i\l ult.

Tlic following is tlio list of eases s t down for hearing before ibo Cou t of Ap-.eai : V t nnel v Braedon, Do Ison, v. Macandrcw, R rtou and others v. Howe, R<c eve; of Laud Revenue, Southland, v. the Queen, (.Vhmorc v. Maney, Passmore v. the .Rank of ow South Wa'es, Vincent v. James, i ! okitika ami Gray mouth Tramway Company v. County Council of Westland, Burns v, Otago and Southland Investment Company, Harding v. Galbraith, Strachan v. Lyoa, Russell v, Sealey, Allen v. Anderson, Otago and Southland Investment Company v Burn=>, and TulJy v. Ngatueiv. This is the longest list the Court of Appeal over yet has had to deal with, and apparently the sitting will he a very protracted one. Three cases are to be he ird by the Divorce Court.

The drama of “ ast Lynne” was performed at the Princess Theatre last evening to an cx-epHona’ly largo audience. Mrs Batts sustained the dual parts of lady Isabel and Madame Vino ; and aHhough it must be admitted that she acquitted hers df conscientiously, yet-, having a vivid rccolicctian of Miss ,-\de’aido Bowling’s icpresentation .of the same char rotors, we are compelled to say that .Mrs Bates suffers by the contrast. In the emotional parts Mrs Rates was sufficiently goad, but she infused too much of the melodramatic business into the dialogue connected with the events of every-day life. Mr Bates’s Archibald Carlyle did not come u;> to our expectations, neverth* less it was an improvement on his ;i arl of Essex. Miss Willis had a good part, which she might have made more of had she been kss fLppaut n her manner. Mis. Vivian, as Cornelia, secured a large share ol applause. IvlrKnogh's Sir Francis Lemon was vil aiuons enough to please the most ex acting ; while Mr Musgrave, as Lord Mount ovvern, played with his accustomed ability. >ll the minor characters were very well tided. '‘Elizabeth ’is announced for this evening.

Ouc of the most richly-deserved sentences which has ever been passed in a Police Court, was indicted by the Auckland Magistrate on October 24. The offence hr which the delinquent was charged was an assault on a helpless baby five months old. The evidence disclosed a chapter of revolting profligacy rarely surpassed. The prisoner, a Of man named Von Gravenitz, was proved to have been cohabiting with a woman who lias very recently been admitted into the hospital suffering under some dangerous complaint. Her [infant was left in the care of her paramour and her father, who lived in the same house wish him. the fathered the infant being at the Bay of Islands. From the testimony of some of the neighbors who had inteifcred on the child’s behalf from motives of humanity, and from the dreadfully emaciated condition of the little victim, who was produced in Court, there was no doubt that it had been actually starved nearly to deith, and one witness swore to having seen the heartless brute strike it. Mr Beckham sentenced the prisoner to pay a li-n of LlO, of which one-half would go towards the support of the child, or in default to be imprisoned with hard labor for two months.

t The mission auxiliary screw schooner Southern Cross returned to Auckland a few days ago from her first cruise amongst the islands The vessel is reported upon as having proved herself admirably adapcc i for the service, and the mission work seems to be progressing satisfactorily. The labor questi ;n, however, seems to demand more attention than ever. Although her Majesty’s cruisers are active, the slavers are still mere so. These slavers are called “labor vessels ” Ihe war between the lawless rovers who sail them and the natives is deadly, and is appears to he evident that the number of her Majesty’s cruisers is much too small to contend against them. Yet the traffic is not a little perilous to those engaged in it, as may be judged from the following extract from the report of the master of the Southern Cross .-—“ There were three labor vessels at Ambrym—the Jason, Donald M'Lean. and Lady Darling. The captain of the latter vessel told Mr Kenny of the massacre, at Tasico, of the captain, mate, and four hands of the schooner Zephyr. While at Savo, Mr Codrington was told lint the mate and Government agent of the labor vessel Southern Cross were killed at Yeuikora. The snatch - suatch vessels are as numerous as ever; w r e counted twelve during our cruise,”

During the last fortnight, says the ‘ Mew Zealand Limes’of November 5, Mr Lemon, the Superintendent of Telegraphs, has been busily occupied in linking the English and American stations into the • telegraphic circuit of the Colony, and the arrangements are so far completed that on November 2 Professor i*eters compared time with the. United States corvette Hwatara at Port Chalmers. Major Palmer int nds establishing another station in the neighborhood of Timaru, to be placed in charge of Lieutenant Crawford ; and Mr Thomson, late Chief Purveyor of Otago, will assist the Burnham station by taking observations at the Bookyside Observatory at Duuedip, in the absence of

Archdeacon Stock (who is at present in Melbourne), no arrangements cau be made for making observations here ; but Archdeacon Stock will also observe the transit in ounce'.ion with the Burnham sbm 1i m, sh.uld h. l retorn in Lime. The • bsoi va t-ous al the i names will i.c conducted under the superintendence ot Mr Novem. vO far th: arr.n cucut- a;c all that can be desired, Major Palmer and L’reienuv I’ctcrs (who are u,;w in duly communication) expressing themselves ns highly pleased wi hj the compm cness of the arrangements made for Unir convenience by the" Tc ! g s rapb Deo a;tUlClit.

Ine ‘ ! ally Times,’ a week , r two .ago, was job Imt be ansa f r once it imagined i s Wellington correspondent, telegraphed the. iiutn In the iustanc? claimed, ah,out Air \ o ;e! goin • to England, very grave doubts might be raised : on the lol'owiug there can be none. s usual, a grand discovery i-y tin: Weliingion correspondent figures promiucatl r in the local column of Tuesdiy, October '2O. in which wc arc informed as :o lows ;—“Our Wellingtoncorres pondvub tolcgraplu-d la.i night, as follows : - ‘An amu-ing complication lias arisen in re.ereiiee to the appointment of a Commissioner of Crown Lauds for Nelson Air Daniel the present Commissioner, L to > old to perform the active out door duties of the oliicc, and being entitled to a pension, wished to re ire. iSuperinteiidenfc Curds, when Major Atkinson was in Nelson, a-ked him to allow Mr Daniel's retirement, and to appoint Mr Greenfield, ex Provincial Secivtaiy, as Ins successor Major Atkinson assented, but on his return here, lound that Mr Vogel, durin ihe session. Imd promised the appointment to Air Joseph Sheppard, the member. Major Atkim.on informed Mr Curtis, who objected ti Sir.shep- ard, as quite as unfit for Ihedutio as Mr Daniel, and it turns out that Air S :copard was profmsing to Mr Greenfield to use his influence in his favor. Too result of the whole aft’,dr is tbit Mr Daniel Ins withdrawn his application for leave to retire, and retains office, A string feeling is Said to exist in Nelson regarding Mr Sheppard’s conduct in the matter ’’’ How much of false informal ion and what proportion of imagination were combined to produce this plan-able story, we cannot say. Unfortuna c!y it is not true, as the following letter from Mr Joseph Sheppard to the * Nelson Colonist,’ u dor date November 2, abundantly provei :—“ Sir, Your paper of Thurs lay did not re:eh roc till Saturday night, or I should hive written sooner to coiuradi ;t the gioss falsehoods respecting me, contained in the ‘ interesting Item.’ Mr Vogel never promised mo the appointment of Commissioner of Crown Lands, nor did I profess to anyone that I was using my influence in fivor of Mr Greenfield. I have, on the contrary, invariably expressed the strongest disapproval of this attempt to re move Mr Daniel, and distinctly refused to assist in promoting any change ”

The usual weekly practice of the Artillery Band wil be held on Tuesday evening.

Tiie annual meeting of the Grand Division Sons of Temperance will be held in the Temperance Hall, on Monday evening, "We have received a letter signed “Exciseman,” commenting on “informations” against sly grog selling, which seeks to justify one class of law breakers because others are not punished" It is strange that men deceive themselves by such arguments—stranger still that they should think to deceive others. Offenders cannot be punished until they are found out, and when their sins are committed they know the penalty. We hive no sympathy with them. As we consi ler sufficient lias been said on -the subject of the late railway accident, we cannot insert “ Another Observer’s ” letter.