THE Hawke's Bay Times.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1549, 10 February 1874, Page 110

THE Hawke's Bay Times.

™* fc; 2Zs~ : — '. Nullim addictus jfflrare in %Wa'-fi£agiktTi .the ijintroduction; *qs [railways ..into -the' ; Colony has -arisen X a question has rise to discussion in the old and which bids fair to be debated with no less vigoivin this part -of the world. - : The subject is that of Sunday trains; the battle is now raging vigorously in the "far "south of and away" in the north in the city of Auckland; and with the extension of the railways it will probably sp'read through the length and breadth of the Colony. The question is one upon which all who value the sanctity of the day of! rest-should take a decided stand, and we are glad to see that in Otago, and we trust alsp in Auckland, measures are being taken to bring the strong pressure of united public feeling to bear on the subject. The railways being Government property, the matter is entirely in the hands of the public if they only make their influence felt.

In Otago the.subject was first taken up by the Presbyterian Synod of Otago unci 'Southland! The committee on the state of religion reported in reference to sabbath observance " that they cannot report any inprovement, at least in Otago.. Trains run regularly between Dunedin and Port Chalmers on the Lord's. Day. Dray traffic is still carried on, and shops on the different lines of transit to the gold-fields are kept open for supplying the draymen with provisions for .themselves and horses." From Clutha the report was equally unfavorable. " Some hotels, in the neighborhood of railway works, seem to do more business on that day than on any oilier." The committee suggested that on the first Sabbath in March ministers should be instructed to preach specially on this subject, and that petitions should be drawn up and signed as numerously as possible by-all the congregations.

In reviewing this report the Otago Daily Times expressed a sincere hope that Sunday trains would not be stopped, while recognizing "the serious importance of the matter as bearing upon the seven days' work without rest of the railway employes." Therefore the Synod are recommended to abandon their stand upon the fourth' commandment, and confine their objection to this latter ground. "Few positions" says the Daily Times, " would become them (the churches) better than to urge the imperious claims of human nature for one day's rest in seven upon the authorities. We must warn our terian friends that the assumption in /their petition that the fourth commandment is of binding obligation still, will of necessity prove fatal to its general acceptance. .I . , 'Let them bend their energies, not to stop a so-called desecration :of a day which "has no existence except among the Jews; let them call things by their right names, and argue their case upon grounds which almost all can admit; let them claim for each servant of the Government the free right of. choice whether he will work upon Sunday or not; let them urge the welb-established fact, that human nature requires rest, and claim from the State a practical acknowledgement of the right of their employes to a holiday.";. All this, and more, is urged by the Synod, and we fail to see why they should be so kindly requested to abandon the ground which they naturally look upon as the strongest they can urge, and thus place themselves at a disadvantage. It is very well to urge " the imperious claims of human nature," but they would not weigh for much with many employers if not supported by a legal claim to the day of rest, which the workman at present' possesses, and of which some would seek to deprive him. And upon what is this legal claim based ? Solely upon the divine law which preceded it —certainly not lipc-n any mere necessity of human nature. And it is simply the association of sanctity with the weekly rest that has preserved it intact from feneration to generation. Let this association be abolished, and nothing would be left to distinguish the day from;any other.: '•< ; ■* O I In Auckland the new Onehunga line is largely patronized by excursionists, and the Sunday trains in particular are crowded. The agitation against them, did not in that Province arise in the first place from the clergy, but from a section of the general pubilic; Wt'the ministers were not slow in ■ , I ,' t i '; * ■ ' f < i . •5 iin i * n H i '

taking the matter up. The battle has been fought in the press with much greater warmth than in Southern Cross treats the agitation in a spirit of scorn and ridicule rather than argument, . a Scripture expression, " the foolishness of preaching," in a very irreverent connexion; and has looked up and inserted some rather profane anecdotes bearing upon the subject. It quotes'with great .approval an extract from,a.late address by the Rev. Dr. Tulloch, Principal of, St. Mary's College, St. Andrews, at the opening of a recent 'session, in which he spoke of the " tendency to extremes in matters relating to religion in the present day ;" in the course- of j which he said "that the antagonism between orthodoxy and belief was becoming more violent and outspoken." dwelt upon the great problems before the Church —how at once to successfully oppose unbelief, and gather within itself the united powers of earnest Christian thought and intelligence. "The question," said Principal Tulloch to the students, "which is really interesting.and pressing is not to get outside the church', but how to enlarge and make room inside it for varieties of Christian intelligence and culture. It will be easy for you, as many do, to stand idly by while the stream of thought is running swiftly by in many agitating whirls—to stand idly by, or take up your station with a blind tenacity on one side or the other. But yours, I trust, will be the higher part—to breast the stream, and, while not losing yourself amid its agitations, to help to smoothen and divest the current into a broader and more beneficial channel," Upon these words the Cross puts an interpretation very foreign to the intention of the speaker. The Church and the world have never been in harmony—a fact, the Cross would take to prove that th e world is in advance of the Church, which has allowed itself to be distanced in the march of intellect and enlight:ment. There is nothing new in this—the —argument in fact is painfully stalebut it serves to show that the battle against unbelief and mammon-worship will yet have to be as sternly fought in this new country as on the battle grounds of the old world.

We are glad to see that the Star has taken up the question in a fearless and independent spirit. The influence of the Evening Star is very great, and we arc glad to see that it has been brought to bear on the side of religion and morals. ■ — e- — A large auction sale of cattle and sheep was held at Oakboitrne on Friday last, 6th February. There was a considerable attendance, and the sale is reported to have been a success. The total sum realized by the sale was £2,850. We regret to. state that after all the labor and expense which has been bestowed on the well in the Union Bank premises, the work had to be abandoned on Friday evening. A depth of over 200 feet had been attained, and the nature of the strata at that depth was such as to leave no hope of obtaining a flow of water. Mr W. Mackune, the Deputy Eight Worthy Grand Templar, took his departure for Wellington in the s.s. Rangatira j yesterday, after opening four lodges'.in; this Province, and appointing three deputies fully qualified to continue the work. The Napier Pioneer Lodge now numbers nearly forty members, and the officers were installed by D.R.W.G.T. Brother Brydone, on Friday evening last. The following are the officers: Worthy Past "| Chief Templar, Brother R. P. Brydonc; W. Chief Templar, Brother R. C. Harding; W. Vice i'emplar, Bro. M. J. P. Troy; W. Secretary, Bro. W. Hood; W. Financial Secretary, : Brother D. E. Lindsay; W.Treasurer/: Brother S. Berry; W. Marshall,.. Bro. J. Woods; W.- Inside Guard, Bro. J. Clayton; W. Outside Guard, Brother F. Sanders; W. Right Hand Supporter, Sister J. C. Harding; W. Left Hand Supporter, Bro. Mitchell; W. DeputyMarshall, Bro. J. Lingard ; W. Assistant Secretary, W. V. Cadman.' The Lodge has obtained the use of St. Paul's Presbyterian school-room for its weekly meetings,. which are to take, place on Friday evenings.—We have already mentioned the opening of the "Vanguard" lodge at-Olive; With nineteen members.—A lodge named the " Progress" has been opened by Brother .Mackune at Waipawa, with twenty eight members, including four sisters. The following are the j principal officers: W.C.T., 'Brother R. Philips; W.V.T, P. M'Greevy; W. Sec, J. Sowry ; W, Chaplain, Rev. R. Taylor; W.M., J. H. Sebley : D.R.W.G.T., Brother R. Harding.—A lodge, the " Tavistock," has also been opened at Waipukurau, with sixteen members. The officers are to be installed by D.R.W.G.T. Harding. We hear that Brother A. Levy has been elected W.C.T.—It was Mr Mackune's original idea to proceed to Gisborne and open a lodge; ,but instead of. so doing, he has given the, Rev. W. H. Root, Who is a third-degree member, a commission and the necessary material to open a lodge. Nelson and Westland are now the only two Provinces which Mr Mackune has not visited,

Mails close for India and China on the 11th February, at noon. Mails close for Wellington and Son|hern Provinces per s.s. Murray,"onl Friday, the 13th inst., at 11 a.m. M&ils for the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, via Suez on the same day at noon. '; K .': |f ... The new Napier : Band gave their opening performance on Saturday evening, though the -weather was veiy. unfavorable. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, George Sinclair again made his appearance, charged with drunken- ! ness. Fined 10s, or,in default, fortyhours imprisonment. A welcome change, in the weather took place on Saturday, heavy rain having, fallen, and continued, with occasional intermission, during the next day- -}• ■ ■ .;. i * 8 Our telegrams to-day record the; occurrence of one of those terrilic northeasterly gales to which Auckland is periodically subject, Tn this case, in addition to the lamentable loss of life, damage to property has been caused to the extent of over £6,000. The Hon. W. lox will deliver an address on the subject of the temperance question on Thursday evening next. The Superintendent has obligingly granted the use of the Council Chamber for the purpose. Front Mr Fox's well-known powers as an orator, and his thorough acquaintance with the subject, we anticipate that a pleasant and profitable evening will be spent by all present. The body of the unfortunate man Daniel German, who was drowned on Wednesday last, was found on Saturday by Mr Torr, about two miles up the Petane beach. The body was conveyed to Barrow's hotel, Port Ahuriri, where an inquest was held the same evening, before Dr. Hitchings, Coroner, and a jury of twelve, Mr Barrows being chosen foreman. The following evidence was taken :—Hugh Connor: I am a sailor, and live at Greer's, I have known the deceased about four' years. lam now working as carter. On Wednesday last, about half-past twelve, I came to Barrows' to see a man named John, with whom I had arranged three or four days before to swim for a wager of £SO a side. 1 came to tell him I wanted to draw the stakes, as I would not be kept waiting any longer. £1 had been deposited, and I got the money. Deceased was present, and said he would back himself for. £1 to stop in the water longer than I would. I said it was a foolish bet; I said I would swim against him any distance. He said he could not swim fast, and I took the bet. We each deposited £l, and we both, with about a dozen others, went over to the steamer Manawatu, which was lying outside the Itangatira at the point, we stripped; I said "Go on," and he let himself down, feet foremost, into the water. The tide was about an hour and a half or two hours ebb. I got on the rail and dived directly aftei\ We were both carried out into the tide by the breakers. We were about ten yards apart. I saw him going head under the breakers. I had my back to the breakers and allowed myself to be lifted over them. There was not much sea on at the time. I watched deceased, and saw him sink; he came up again a few seconds after, and again sunk; I did not see him rise again. He was then in the centre of the current, about twenty yards from me. If he had been out of the breakers I could have assisted him; but where he was I could not help him. When we were being carried out, about ten yards apart, seeing that he swam too low, his mouth being under water, I called to him to follow me. I do not believe he could swim much. He made no answer. I only called to him once. When I saw him going down I struck for the shore. There were a good many people watching both on shore and on the steamer I did not hear him boastof his swimming. He boasted he could remain longer in the water than any man he ever knew. When I got into the eddy, before I reached the shore, I beckoned and hailed the pilot boat, but the pilot could not hear me. John Mabbett signalled with his hat. The pilot came for nie, and I told him I could get ashore; there was a man drowning, and he had better go to his assistance. The pilot went for him but could not .find him, and I remained, in the water till the bbat : came back and took me ashore. By 'the' foreman; He got the £1 from you; he changed a The stakes were placed in the hands of Kirkpatrick the cab driver, and I have drawn them, because I consider I won the wager. We were both about " halfslewed ;" deceased was a little worse. He was qnite half-gone, and I had been ' drinking all the week. —Daniel Sutherland, laborer: I live at the Spit. I was present on Wednesday morning last in this hotel, when the wager was made. The deceased was the worse for drink. He could walk .straight; I cannot say ' whether .he was fit to go into the water. Connor was also the worse for drink, but I do not suppose he was quite so drunk as deceased. Two or three of those in the room advised deceased not to go. He said that he knew what he was doing, and that lie was right enough.—The jury returned a verdict "That,.the deceased was accidently drowned, through his own rash act."