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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 180, 24 June 1864, Page 3

Deaths by Flood, Fip.e, Deink, and Wak.— The following'ought to be a caution to our voluminous fair friends, but when did they ever condescend to take a caution from us inferior animals. In the deepest sorrow wc must stand on one side apd bewail our loss, till such times as it pleases the arbitrary self-destroyers, that our sorrow shall be terminated by our own good sense:—On theglOth a collection was made for the sufferers from the Sheffield flood, after a sermon on the subject by the Rev. Newman Hall. In his introductory observations he referred to the supreme value set on human life by the community, who were properly shocked at the loss of 250 lives, and insisted on vigorous measures to prevent the recurrence of such catastrophes. But we should be consistent, and guard, no less against other causes of unnecessary death. Dr. Lankester, coroner for West Middlesex, stated that out of 48 deaths by burning which came under his notice last year 21 were of persons above ten years old, and of these 21 were females, ‘ the majority, if not the whole, of whom were victims of extended dresses. It was said that in three years 2,500 woman had thus been burnt alive in this country. Should not Christian women consider the propriety of discontinuing a custom so destructive of life, and was it not right for Christian Ministers to use their influence in a question which was not one simply of taste, but of humanity ? The same coroner had, during the last year held 1,093 inquests. Of these 33 cases were ascribed to excessive drinking, 379 were accidents, 62 suicides, and 521 sudden deaths. Dr. Lankester said that judging from the evidence given, two-thirds ofjtho suicides, half the accidents, and one-third of the natural deaths were directly or indirectly caused by excessive drinking. This would give 437 deaths from drink in a single year, in a single district, under a single coroner’s observation. It was a low computation that 20,000 persons died from drink in this country every year; so that far more perished every week than in the Sheffield flood. Should not the concern for the preservation of life elicited by that disaster lead to earnest efforts to protect life from still more destructive agencies ? Reference was then made to_thc wholesale ravages of war, and surprise expressed that many who seemed shocked at the sacrifice of life at Sheffield should speak recklessly of war, and advocate our country engaging in it, when the first battle would in all probability destroy ten times as many. Dank of New Zealand. —The appointment of Mr. Murdock as Inspector of the Bank of Now Zealand will cause general satisfaction throughout the Provinces. Mr. Murdock is well-known as a gentleman of great banking experience and ability and in the office which he formerly held here, as Inspector of the Bank of New South Wales, has acquired an extensive knowledge of the colony of Now Zealand. Wo must certainly congratulate our local institution on the acquisition of so valuable an officer to their staff. —New Zealand Herald. An Important Question to be put at the next Examination of the Youth of Hawke's Bat. —Schoolmaster: Now, Master Smith, what is a gentleman ?”—“ A gentleman, sir ?”—Schoolmaster; “ Yes, sir, a gentleman.”—“ A gentleman, sir, please, sir, is a sheepfarmer.” Schoolmaster: “ Q-ood boy! very good boy (with a look of triumph towards the company). You shall have the usual half-yearly prize for good manners that you shall.” (All the old ladies of both sexes upon the platform highly commend this decision, and the scene closes.)