Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addiclus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1511, 18 December 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addiclus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1872.

We hear that those of the Napier Rifles who desire to fire for choice of company representatives, in view of the forthcoming Colonial Prize Firing, will fall in at the butts, on the White road, at 5 o'clock to-morrow morning. We have much pleasure in stating that the excellent Band of the Rifle Volunteers will be in attendance at the Presbyterian Church Bazaar, in the Oddfellows' Hall, to-morrow evening, and also on Friday evening. A long spell of fine weather was broken this morning by a very refreshing rainfall. Owing to unfavorable weather, the firing on the part of the local team in the rifle match—Napier Rifle Club v. Dunedin City Guards—did not come off this morning. They will probably fire on Friday morning.

The steamer Star of the South will leave for the Thames and Auckland at 7 o'clock to-morrow evening—not at 9 a.m., as advertised yesterday. In the Resident Magistrate's Court this morning, Thomas Floyd, charged with being drunk and resisting the police, was fined J 65, the offence being of an aggravated nature. Notwithstanding the very unfavorable weather, the Bazaar in aid of the Manse fund of the Presbyterian Church was fairly attended this afternoon, and some brisk business was done. From the advertisement it will be seen that it will remain open till 10 o'clock tonight.

The erection of Shortland and Grahamstown into a municipality has been agitated. In the Auckland Provincial Council, on the 13th December, a petition from 1,000 inhabitants of those towns, protesting against the proposed step, was leceived. We regret to hear from Auckland that Mr. James Mackay, jun, is very ill. The illness is attributed to overwork in connection with the Native Lands Court. The New Zealand Herald writes : " Our telegrams announce the death of Horace Greeley. We regret this, al though we could not exj est ' the sage' to live for ever. We think, however, that the excitement consequent on the Presidential election cost him his life. But he died for a great principle. He vindicated a general amnesty, universal brotherhood, and reform of the Civil Service. His was a policy opposed to abuses. He was in favor of honesty, and had a singular affection for honest men. We do not say that President Grant is not an honest man, but he has had as his supporters men who, notoriously, are not honest. Horace Greeley dead, we do not know who can represent his principles in America. There is a blank in the inner life of the Great Republic which cannot well be filled."

At Auckland, on Wednesday last, Volunteer Kelly, of the Auckland Artillery, made a magnificent score of 8(5 points out of a possible 100, at 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 yards. Speaking of the subject of flogging hardened criminals, two eminent Judges have expressed tLeir opinion. The Lord Chief Baron, the Right Hon. Sir Eitzroy Kelly, <aid on one occasion ; —" As to its haying a tendency to the degradation of the professional criminals, they have already degraded themselves by their conduct, and disgraced if not degraded permanently the objects of their crimes. No commiseration whatever should be entertained lor them, and they should suffer in an exemplary manner." The Lord Chief Justice, the Right Hon. Sir Alexander Cockbum, said :—The mistake is in attributing to professional criminals a refinement of feeling they do not possess. They are of base and cowardly instinct*, and do not deserve the consideration due to the criminal of brave, perhaps generous character, who may have given way to corrupting influences on the impulse of sudden passion. At the same time the lash has a most decided effect upon the brutal disposition of violently-disposed fellows,"