EVILS OF INTEMPERANCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1099, 1 May 1883, Page 3

EVILS OF INTEMPERANCE.

A case of a painful nature came before the committee of the Benevolent Institution at their meeting yesterday afternoon, says the New Zealand Mail of last Saturday, the Rev.R. Bavin introducing the matter by mentioning that tho wife and family of Jeremiah Murphy, the ex-Episcopalian clergyman who recently figured in the Besident Magistrate's Court, were in a state ot great destitution, being without the common necessaries of life. Those of our readers who carefully peruse the reports of the Court proceedings will recollect that a few • weeks ago Murphy, who was then earning a livelihood as a kitchenman in a Willis.street restaurant, appeared before Mr. Hardcastle to show cause why a protection order should not be issued to his wife. The evidence adduced revealed a sad state of affairs; the defendant's wifr mentioned that her husband had been compelled to vacate several eomfortable livings, both at Home and in New Zealand, owing to his intemperate habits, and had at last been obliged to obtain a living as a meniali n a local eating house. It was proved that he had cruelly illtreated her, on one or two occasions threatening to take her life, and that he had failed to adequatoly support her and the five children ; but owing to a flaw in in the evidence the information was dismissed. Shortly Afterwards Murphy mysteriously disappeared from his lodging-house, and fears were entertained that he had drowned himself, but he subsequently turned up in the Whareama distict, where he is at present employed. The wife and family are now in a state of destitution, and the committee decided yesterday to supply rations to them, leaving the ladies of the church with which Murphy was connected to provide raiment, etc.