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Hawke's Bay Times, Issue 1614, 25 September 1874, Page 369

The following information on licensing laws in the olden times/ is given by the Leisure Hour:—" The publican was bound to sell a full quart of the best alo for one penny. If he gave short measure he was fined twenty shillings; and if he allowed tippling in his house he was fined ten shillings; and such fines the constable was authorized to levy by distress. Again, any person found tippling in his house was fined three-and fourpence, and any person drunk five shillings; and if the tippler could not pay his fine the constable was to put him in the stocks for four hours. And if the drunkard could not pay his fine he was compelled to undergo six hours of that contemplative and sobering confinement. But there is still worse behind ; if any publican sold ale without a proper licence, he was to forfeit twenty shillings, and if he could not pay, or had no goods of his own to be distrained, he was to be openly whipped by the constable : and if the constable refuse to whip him, he (the constable) was to be sent to gaol, there to remain until he had paid forty shillings to the use of the poor of the parish. Lastly, if a publican refused to entertain a traveller proffering payment for his entertainment, the constable was to indict him for the same at the quarter sessions, and get him fined or imprisoned. Imagine if you can how such relations would be relished by the Boniface of the present day,"

A suggestive story from the reefs is told by a correspondent of the Rockhampton Bulletin, Queensland. A mining manager (who shall be nameless, but his address is the Northern Territory) visited the Howley, and having expressed his admiration of a huge piece of quartz which was shown to him, and his opinion eagerly expected, by a number of choice spirits who had assembled to hear the great mining authority's oracular delivery. Taking the stone in his hand, he twisted and turned it round and round, held it to the light, carefully examining it for gold, which, however, he failed to discover. Giving a preliminary hem'! thus spake he—" Well, I can't see any gold; but it's as nice a specimen of gold-bearing quartz as ever I saw in my life." " Can't see any gold ?'' retorted one of the bystanders in the secret. " Why, man, wet it with your tongue, and then you will see the gold fast enough." He did so. Half-an-hour afterwards a man was seen galloping away from the Howley as though 10,000 fiends were at Jn's heels. The piece of quartz he had so carefully examined and expressed his deliberate opinion " as being as nice a piece of gold-bearing quartz as ever he saw," turned out to be—only a lump of rock salt. The Rock says : " The late Bishop Wilberforce, during the 40 years of his active ecclesiastical life, collected all the pamphlets that came in his way relating to the controversies of the busy days in which he lived. These were always arranged from year to year, and carefully indexed by his own hand ; and they went on accumulating until, at the time of his death, they mustered a formidable phalanx of no fewer than 175 thick Bvo. volumes, all of which had inscribed on their blue morocco backs the particular date to which they belonged. Not only is the series quite invaluable to the controversial student, but its interest is frequently enhanced by the circumstance that a large proportion of the pamphlets, being presentation copies, carry the autograph of the writers. At the Bishop's sale there was a spirited competition for this lot, which was eventually knocked down to Mr Sotheran, of the Strand, from whom it has been purchased (for £100) by the National Club. • We heartily congratulate the Club on the acquisition of so unique a prize, which, we believe, will occupy a berth in the com-mittee-room, where the very important library presented by the late Robert M'Ghee is already established." Mr Montgomery addressed the electors of Akaroa on Saturday night, 17th September. There was a large attendance. The Superintendent was present. The address lasted nearly two hours. On the question of the abolition of provinces, Mr Montgomery spoke strongly against so large a constitutional change being introduced without the people being first consulted. He contrasted the General Government expenditure with the Provincial, and the result derivable therefrom, alleging that Mr Vogel would not get a less expensive or more effiicient machinery than the existing provincial machinery. He asked if the provinces were abolished, where would the land fund be? Why it was because the provinces had certain clearly defined boundaries and certain institutions that the land fund had got that fixity which it could not possibly have if the provinces were abolished, and from what he knew of the people of the General Assembly, they would not hesitate for a moment to appropriate the land fund as colonial revenue. It was for the people of this province to consider how far abolishing the provinces in the North Island would affect them. It was also their duty to consider it so far as it affects the people in the Northern province. If the North Island provinces were abolished it follows that those of the South would be abolished also; if not at the same time, almost immediately after. What they were to have in place of the existing institutions none have the slightest idea. He was not, like some who voted against Mr Vogel's resolutions ) a provincialist in the general acceptation of the term. He did not say the provincial institutions should not be modified in the course of time, but he objected to taking away that which had done an immense deal of good until he knew, what was going to be put in its place (cheers), and until the people express an opinion on it. (Loud cheers.) He was not enlisted under any leader. If he did choose one, it would be Mr*Vogel, because of his large abilities and views; but Mr Vogel's pace was much too fast. He was dazzling in his movements, and so restless in his energy that he was going beyond the strength of the colony. He (Mr M.) would ask thos-j who thought provincial institutions had not done everything in the best manner to consider that, whatever progress we have made, we owe to provincial institutions. They founded and maintained schools; they have made roads and bridges; they organized police; they provided hospitals, jails and lunatic asylums; they supplied funds for the support of the sick' and needy; and generally their administrations have been those of success. On the conclusion of his address, a unani mous vote of thanks was recorded to Mr Montgomery.