Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Kumara Times, Issue 807, 2 May 1879, Page 4

Total abstinence does not seem to have gained much ground as yet in Ireland. The vice chairman of the General Prison Boards at Dublin, in his report on the state of the county and borough gaols in Ireland for 1877, just printed, again draws attention to the increase of drunkenness, which has been alarming since 1867, when the commitments for that offence to the county and borough gaols only numbered 6,645, whereas in 1877 there were 18,837 commitments, being an increase ot 1191 as compared with 1876, and it must be remembered that these number do not include the commitments to bridewells. .The Inspectors-General of Prisons in Ireland in their reports have frequently pointed out the little effect which repeated short sentences have as a deterrent on habitual drunkards, and the utter hopelessness of reforming this class of persons by sue i means • In some caßes old offenders are tried and sentenced to a few hours' imprisonment ftr this offence while they are in a state of inebriation and they consequently spend moßt of the time they are in gaol comfortably in bed ; and it is credibly stated they are at times oiecharged while still- absolutely under the influence of drink. It is, under these circumstances, not astonishing that prison discipline has no good effect on thtm. The latest development of the "artiste" we have lighted on is a show announcement in a Wanganui paper:—" Punch and Judy every 15 minutes by a lady artiste." At a meeting of cricketers held in Sydney on April 12, the following agreed to form portion of 12 to visit England in ISBO : Messrs Evans, Massie, Spoffortb, C. Bannerman,' A. Bannerman, Murdoch. Garrett will also probably form one of the team ; and the Victorians will be elected from Blackham, Horan, D, Campbell, Boyle, and Alexander. Mr Richard Driver is the promoter ; and, should Lay cock now b'at Trickett, Mr James Punch will probably take him to England to row for the championship. A Bill has been passed in the United States allowing women to practice in the highest Courts in Washington. The Bill was passed in the Senate by 40 to 20.