THE Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 31st JULY, 1874.

Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1598, 31 July 1874, Page 306

THE Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri FRIDAY, 31st JULY, 1874.

The late mail has brought us further information concerning the progress through the Imperial Parliament of the Government " Intoxicating Liquors Bill." As we intimated in a recent issue, the bill is of a retrogressive character, proposing as it does to abolish the wholesome provisions of the Licensing Act of the late Government, to extend the hours during which liquors may be sold, and generally to make things pleasant and easy to the liquor dealer. So much so is this the case, that a feeling of alarm has spread over the whole community, which has resulted in the most emphatic, universal, and decided expression of public opinion from all classes, sects, and parties, against the measure, the larger towns and cities taking the lead in the agitation. It is *not too much to say that no measure of late years has excited so intensely the antagonism of the popular mind as this latest proposal of the new Conservative Government. The question of the second reading of the bill was discussed in a full house on Monday, 11th May. At the outset of the debate, an amendment was moved by Mr Melly, " That in the opinion of this House, no measure for the regulation of the sale of intoxicating liquors will be satisfactory which affords increased facilities for drinking, and which deals unequally and unfairly with a considerable branch of the liquor trade" —the former portion of the amendment referring to the proposed extension of the hours of sale, and the latter to a distinction which it was proposed to make between the beer-houses and the spirit-shops, the former to be closed half-an-hour before the latter. Mr Melly argued that the proposals of the Government went again3t the feeling gf the people—that the present Act was working satisfactorily, in that it had greatly promoted good order during

the night. It was also shown that even the publicans themselves did not desire extended hours. A circular having been supplied to the metropolitan trade by the Licensed'Victuallers' 'Protection Society, inquiring what was desired as regarded the hours of closing, 2,000 did not care to reply at all, 2,791 were for 12 o'clock, and only 455 for any later time than that.' Mr Melly was well supported by the House, and the Government, at about midnight, gave way to an overwhelming opposition, so far as to leave the question of closing hours to the decision of the House in Committee, which would be on Thursday, 4th June. Our files do not extend up to the latter date, but public agitation was excited by the debate, and much gratification was felt at the point gained. Notice has been given of a whole host of amendments to be proposed in committee, the notices covering several pages of the notice-paper, and including the names of some 30 different members ; but of course not all on the same side of the question. The bill is, almost universally condemned by the public press. The Times, always a good exponent of the popular mind, takes the lead, and shows that by yielding the question of the hours of closing to the House, the Government has abandoned the vital principle of the bill, and has no excuse left for taking away the magisterial discretion in the matter. " As soon as it is admitted by the Government that the hours should not be the same throughout the country, it follows as a practical deduction that it is better to relegate to the local authority the fixing, within certain prescribed limits, of the hours proper to each locality. , . . Nothing can be better, whether considered on grounds of national expediency or as a means of developing local responsibility, than to allow those who live in a neighborhood and know its wants, to fix the hours of closing for its public-houses. ... In truth, no alteration of hours is needed. . . . The publicans of London want no additional hours, and would be quite satisfied by the repeal of the exemptions allowing certain favored houses to be open an hour later than others. ... The bill, so far as it may be operative at all, will be a sacrifice of public good to the interests—and to the resentment more than the interests—of an influential body of traders." The opinion of a certain section of the English press that the Government had simply brought in the bill to satisfy an implied promise to the liquor dealers, but without either wish or intention that it should pass, is still maintained in certain quarters. The London correspondent of the Eastern Morning News writes, "The apologists for the Ministry say with reference to the Licensing Bill and its collapse, that Mr Cross was finessing when he brought in that measure ; that he wanted to do.nothing, was obliged to do so in order to discharge, the obligation of the Tory party to the publicans, but all the time invited opposition to the Bill, especially to that portion of it granting extension of hours. But a man ought to be a good player before he takes to finessing. Mr Cross, instead of winning the trick as he expected to do, has had his hand forced. Instead of gracefully yielding to gentle pressure, he has excited such a fervor of opposition that all the country is astonished at the want of foresight which the Ministry has displayed. As for the Temperance party, they have every reason to be grateful to Mr Cross. It has shown them to be far stronger than the public had deemed them." Some of the English press go so far as to regard the Bill as virtually defunct. It has other objectionable points as well as that extending 'the hours of sale, and will doubtless emerge from Committee a very different measure from that brought forward by Mr Cross; but if not well looked after by the friends of order may yet prove a step in retrogression instead of m advance. The main amendment required is one that shall make it illegal to force the traffic into any parish or district against the wishes of the inhabitants; and such, we doubt not, will be moved, if not carried, by the friends of liberty and progress. —»■■■" - Recent fires in various parts of the Colony have called forth a variety of suggestions of more or less practical value as to the best means of quelling the destructive element. The Otago Daily Times calls attention to the value of steam as an' extinguisher, and its suggestions might be attended to with advantage in steam vessels or in manufactories where steam power is employed. The Times says : —" Steam is, without doubt, one of the most potent elements yet discovered for extinguishing fires. A gentleman informs us that he was present when a flax-mill took fire in the North Island. When the flax ignited, the fire burnt most furiously until the valve of the engine was destroyed, when the escape of steam completely smothered the flames, and extinguished the' fire in a very short time. There are other instances where it had been observed steam vapor has been effectual in subduing fires. It appears the invention of Mr J. Cr, Scott consisted of a main :

steam pipe attached to the steam boiler of a.,donkey-engine aboard ship, by which he could, by a simple contrivance, fill the hold of a ship with steam vapor, which would completely smother the most raging fire; and in smaller vessels, a steam boiler attached to the galley, from which by a- small contrivance, a jet of steam vapor could be dispersed through the hold." A correspondent of the Southern Cross, not long since, in view of the fact that one or two buckets of water, applied on the first discovery of a fire; might often prevent a disastrous conflagration, made a suggestion which might, wherever water-carts are used, be turned to practical account. He wrote as follows : " When a fire occurs in Auckland it simply burns out; it is not put out, as there is never water enough to perform that operation. Why not have, in the same sheds as the engines stand, the water-carts which are used to water the streets standing full of water, and make it known that the first, say two carts, at the fire would haveaguinea each, with a descending scale for others? This would induce the nearest cart or dray to unhook their horses, and 'tackle to the water-carts, and be at the fire as soon or sooner than the engine. Such a supply on the first alarm of fire might be worth hundreds, if not thousands of pounds, as, in nearly every instance, a very little water, judiciously used at the beginning of a fire, would put it out. Not to keep water-carts and horses Waiting after their arrival at the fire, large portable troughs of painted canvas, on a jointed gun-frame, very light, and made after the fashion of a buggy hood, should be laid on the top of each water cart, and ready for immediate use on arriving at the fire. The cart has only then to empty itself into the trough, and start for another load." A comet' has been occasionally observed in the early morning recently, but the unsettled weather and cloudy sky has been unfavorable to observers who took an interest in the stranger. Mails for Auckland, Fiji, Sandwich Islands, America, United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe, close per Cyphrenes at 7 p.m. this day. Money orders and registered letters close at 5 p.m. to-day, All the single young women who arrived by the Winchester were engaged on Tuesday last, and many of the other immigrants have found situations. Captain Arnold has received a gratifying token of esteem from the immigrants under his charge during the voyage, in the shape of a handsome Bible. In the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, Patrick Gill was fined £1 for drunkenness, it being his third offence within a few days. Another inebriate forfeited his bail, £l. Bell v. Turner —a civil case ; adjourned for one week. Blake v. Murray.—Claim of £2 7s 3d for goods sold and delivered. Defendant put in a set-off of £2 Bs, wages earned by his son five or six years ago. Plaintiff disputed the set-off; but no proper record of accounts being shown, judgment was given for defendant. On Wednesday, Richard Haley, for stealing a fowl from a hen-roost at West Clive, was sentenced to a fortnight's imprisonment with hard labor. Yesterday Eric Blomqvist was charged with broaching cargo on board the ship Winchester. Case dismissed. Thomas Sandon appeared to answer a charge of attempting to stab. No prosecutor appearing, the charge was dismissed.