DRINKING CUSTOMS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 385, 17 July 1889, Page 8

DRINKING CUSTOMS.

There's many a hope whose fragments lie O'er manhood 1 * desert scattered, And many a life with promise high, Is tempest-tossed and shatter cd. For social custom fills the g'ass, Society presents it, But when their victims fall, alas ! How soon the}* all resent it ! Our prison walls are strong and good, That nothing rnuy escape them, But 0 1 Tis little understood That men are what wo make them, The sculptured form is badly marred If bnt the chisel glances, And noble souls are of ten scarred By outward circumstances. We set ft trap for all mankind, And if they fall within it, We curse them with comments unkind Because thoy didn't see it. We place within the youthful reach The spaikling wine's temptation, And then against intemperance preach In earnest condemnation. Call you that friendship strong and good Which tempts a feeble brother, That fires his brain and heats his blood With passion for another ? They say that there is truth in wine, The saying is out of season, For men* intoxicate with wine, Are not themselves in reason. [f we would do and not 1 egret, And tn»ka great evils vanish, We suiely would, from etiquette, The strong drink quickly banish, For why should hospitality Be de«med the best or kindest, That profers in society Drink that degrades the mightiest.

The statistics of the Australasian colonies for 1888, just published, show a total increase of population of 126,000 people. New Zealand heads the list in excess of births over deaths. The trade of the various colonies has amounted to Ll2l, 859,000, which is equal to a little over L 35 per head. Victoria has imported most largely, exceeding her exports by LlO,OOO 000. With the exception of South Australia and New Zealand all the colonies have imported moie than they have exported. South Australia shows the largest trade return, which is equal to L 39 per head. New Zealand stands sixth on the list in this respect; with L2O 13s per head. The total tonnage cleared in the colonies during the j'ear was 14,G89,U00 tons. The Spectator, of May 4, says : A post* card was issued last Satuiday in Edinburgh to every one of the 42,971 male nnd female votei son the five different register for the city of Edinbmgh, \\ itb the question :— "Do you wish Mr Pamel! to re ceive the honour of the fieedom of the city of Edinburgh ?" with the answer 11 Yes" or "No/ 1 In return there came 17,808 '• Noes," and 3197 "Ayes," in all 21,105, giving a majority for the " Noes" of 14,611. Whether the fieedom of the city be given to Mr Painell or not, this settles the quesLion as to the wish of the Edinburgh citizens. If it be given, it will be given iigainst the will and m<nd of the citizens ; it w ill bo the gift of a sectional cabal, not of the people of the capital.