New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871. THE WEEK.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 12, 15 April 1871, Page 11

New Zealand Mail. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1871. THE WEEK.

One cannot bring oneself to the proper state of mind to discuss the relative merits of the several opposition candidates for the Superintendence. They all have merits of a certain kind, and with these they ought to be credited. Mr Masters has done some good service in his day, and for this he deserves our thanks ; but that does not imply that he is a fit and proper person to fill the office of Superintendent. So with Major Finnimore. He has also done the state some service, which the Government and the public were not at the time backward in recognising. As a journalist Mr Anderson has been successful; only it unfortunately happens that he is now opposing the principles and party which, as a journalist, he vigorously supported. All three have abilities, and each of them has probably done what he could to promote what he thought the good of the province j but no elector, we trust, will be so silly as to conclude that for these reasons he ought to vote for him for Superintendent. Each proposes to be an anti-provincialist. but as neither will give way to the other, by which only a chance of success could be secured, each proves himself, in effect, a traitor to the parby whose cause he proposes to advocate.

It is good to see the public take an interest in a matter which does not directly concern the breeches pocket, if it be only in making the most of a holiday. This they did on Monday last. It is better when even a holiday is made to serve some useful purpose, and this was the case on the occasion of the rifle prize-shooting at the Adelaide Butts. To excite a spirit of emulation in any art is the best way of promoting its cultivation and practice ; and rifle shooting has now attained to the dignity of an art, and that, too, of the most practical kind. Self-reliance, whether we like it or not, must be our future policy, aqd the reputation of being good marksmen will prove its most efficient auxiliary. The volunteer spirit, it would seem, cannot be excited without the aid of the lasses, who thus do their part in the cause of colonial defence. Colonel Harrington recently stated his belief that the true reason why the South always beat the North, was because the people in the North had not given sufficient attention to rifleshooting, and that was because it was not sufficiently supported by the ladies; and Captain Wales, the champion of New Zealand, supported Colonel Harrington's statement, and thus explained the secret of the success of the Yolunteer movement in Otago. "In 1862," he said, " a number of volunteers wrote to the newspapers, assuming the names of young ladies, and threatening that they would never have a sweetheart who was not a volunteer. The ranks were soon filled, and the movement has progressed ever since." Sir Wm. Napi6r, when consulted as to the dress of volunteers, said that two points had to be kept in view—its fitness for service, and all the smartness combined with that fitness. "If," said he, " their dress is ugly and unattractive in the eyes of the lasses, it will not'be attractive for the men." With these facts in our memory, we were gratified to see, on Monday last, that the Volunteer movement had at last secured the countenance of • the ladies of Wellington. | These opes air spectacles have a beneficial ef-

feet on the physical and moral health of the people, both directly and indirectly. Directly by the healthy enjoyment they afford, and indirectly as counter attractions to other indulgencies of a less innocent character. Before the next number of the Mail will be issued the annual meeting of Magistrates for granting publican's licenses will have taken place. At Auckland, it is said, quiet and practical action had been proceeding, which would be felt on licensing day; and it remains to be seen whether the late acceptance of the Permissive principle by the Auckland Council, and its embodiment in,law, will be made to bear the practical point anticipated by its supporters Nothing has yet been done in Wellington in this direction ; but it is not impossible that a Permissiv Bill will yet be introduced into our Provincial Council. The great merit in a bill of this kind is that it is not, and cannot be, opposed to public opinion, but simply seeks the aid of the law to enforce public opinion. The advocates of the measure do not ask its aid to make people moral, but to check or stop one of the most fruitful sources of immorality. They admit that the power of the law to compel men to do good is very small, but they maintain that its power to restrain them from doing evilis very great. But, unless backed by public opinion, this power i 3 overrated; and, when so backed, is it necessary ? The fate of the Maine Liquor Law in America is a proof that a law in advance of opinion is imperative ; and when twothirds of the inhabitants of a township are so convinced of the evils of the liquor traffic as to demand the aid of the law for its suppression, would not this circumstance itself, without the interference oi the law, do as much to ready suppress it, as a direct law for this object, while intoxicating drinks continue in demand, would be able to accomplish? We confess we should like to see this question answered in the negative, for it is far from our df sire to put the slightest obstacle in the path of those who are seeking to destroy one of the monster evils of the day. But will not the supply continue while the demand exists; and if prevented from flowing through one channel, will it not force its way through another ? Had not the traffic better be continued under the surveillance rather than in defiance of the constituted authorities." Me Duncan sold on Tuesday, at public auction, by order of John Martin, Esq., about two town acres in Willis and Abel Smith streets, and realised the following prices : Frontages to Abel Smith street, by a depth of 63ft, sold from 26s to 30s a foot; frontages to Willis street, by a depth of 80ft, sold from 40s to 509 a foot; frontages to new street near Mr Palmer's residence, at 21s a foot; frontages to Wordsworth street, from 10s to 14s 6d a foot. The whole of the blocks advertised were sold as above, besides four others which had been reserved. Mr Blundell was the principal buyer, his purchases amounting to nearly £SOO, and he secured all the frontages to Willis streets.