THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CIOCK P.M Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1877.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2638, 22 June 1877, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CIOCK P.M Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1877.

H.M.s Sappho took her departure from these waters for Auckland at about eleven o'clock this morning. A meeting, convened by Hotereni Taipari and John Gibbons, will be held in the Odd Fellows' Hall this evening to protest against the proposed removal of the Resident Magistrate's department from Shoftland to Grahamstown. A Gazette Extraordinary, published on the 4th instant, convenes Parliament to meet on 19th day of July for the despatch of business. The half-yearly meeting of the Court Pride of Parnell, No. 4409, A.O.F. r was held at the hall, Owen street, last evening, and the following officers were elected for the ensuing term of six months:— Chief Banger, Bro. W. Burton; SubChief Hanger, Bro. Alex. Hanlen; Senior Woodward, Bro. Thos. Redwood ; Junior Woodward, Bro. Jas. Ingles; Senior Beadle, Bro. Duncan McLean; Junior Beadle, Bro. Angus Fleming; Assistant Secretary, Bro. John Probert; Auditor, Bro. Geo. Wilson, P.C.E. A detachment of the Naval Briga j paid a visit to H.M.S. Sappho yesterc 1 / in the Brigade's launch. The men bad :;

long'and strong pull to reach the si >. Some of the Naval band played sevc tunes on the ship's instruments, and q a cordial understanding seemed to c:::;, amongst, the ship's crew, no doubt^pa: j owing to the visit our bo..ts paid this u<::\y while in Auckland some time.ago, tV. i under the command of one of me lieutenants, Mr Bennett. The !Navai Cadet cutter was obcerved at 2 pirn, bowling along toGrahamstown Wharf from the .Kauaeranga river, and laid Va. wait some few miuules, when the captain, of that company, accompanied by several ladies and , gent'emen, stepped on board, and were taken off to the Sappho, a good six miles pull, which, no doubt, caused the youthful muscles of the crew to ache, for the boys pulled well, and tie boat looked exceedingly nautical and pretty, in fact, quite the style of.a- n .vy boat. The boys, of course, observed many things on board tl: Sappho, and even did not forget to climb up the rigging, and one youthful aspirant was observ I ne^.r the mizzen masthead, but when seen by his officer was immediately ordered below.

The Naval Brigade paraded in good force last night at tteir drill hall to be inspected by Captain Digby of the Sappho, ihere were about 44 men in the ranks, ai?d a good muster of the band. For some time before Captain Digby's arrival the men were exercLed in company drill. On arrival of the visi ': r the men presented arms, and were then put through various movements by Captain Best, and subsequently by Sergeant-Major Grant. Captain Digby then addressed the men, and expressed the pleasure he felt at seeing the efficiency of the corps. He said it was evident that the men had had good instructors, and had profited by them. At home there was a notion that men in the colonies were too independent to become good volunteers —that they would not submit to the necessary discipline, but it was evident that that impression was erroneous, and thc-Naval Brigade, at any rate, must have attended well to their duties, and would no doubt : give a good account of themselves if called upon to meet an enemy. He would call upon them to give three cheers for the Queen. The men responded heartily to the call, and the spectators, "of whom there was a large number present, joined in. A cheer for Captain Best and another for Captain Digby were giverfi and the, company were then dismissed. 1 At the inquest at Whakatane on the body of Makitonera, who died from injuries sustained in afighfc with his son-in-law, Hotene, a verdict of manslaughter was returned against Hotene, who was committed for trial. According to the Home News, " Th railway bookstalls are now displaying - timely little volume. A second editi has just been issued of the ' Handbc : to New Zealand,' made up of contrii. : • tions by various"writers, the editorial r ponsibility being taken by the Lon< Agent-General for New Zealand and : Premier of that Colony, Sir Julius T • gel."

The Australian Freemason refers <:•■> the work of a former resident of tUe. Thames, displayed at the Sydney exhibition, in the following-terms:—ln Sec. 111, we noticed twelve patterns of wpcds aud marbles, painted anct grained to imitate Jasper, Sienna, and Galway Marbles ; also some panels of oak, plain and knotted walnut, bird's-eye maple, &c. There are several of our local grainers exhibiting, but we are informed that Bro. W. Gt. Kibble has obtained first-class prize—the only prize given in this class. Mr H. has had many years' experience as a decorator, both in England and the colonies. For several years he was working at Buckingham Palace, and in Now Zealand painted and decorated Sir Walter

Scott Lodge, Government House, and various other public buildings. He holds appointments from Bro. Sir George Grey, Governor of New Zealand. We hope lhat Bro. Hibble may receive patronage from our townspeople, who have so many fine dwellings that require the skill of a practical decorator.

A Local Option Bill appears to us Utopian (says the Tablet). But there are things which legislation can do and ought to do. It could prevent, if not altogether, at least almost altogether, adulteration,which is the greatest cause of the many miseries so eloquently deplored by the various speakers at this meeting ; it could punish drunkenness in a more rational manner than it does at present; it could so punish the drunkard as to stamp on him the brand of infamy, and it could easily reduce the number of licenced houses, which all admit is very much too large at present. If it were possible to frame an Act of Parliament that would certainly put a stop t> drunkenness, we should without hesitation advocate -such an Act; but as this cannot be, we hold that care should be taken lest, in endeavoring to remedy the evil, the only effect produced should be an aggravation of it. We enteriain a profound distrust of all proposals to effect moral and social reformation by majorities resulting from the ballot-box. Such a result is generally nothing more than the outcome of multiplied ignorance and widespread inexperience, of passion and unreason, of prejudice and religious antipathy. Some peop'e look upon a majority, no roarer how obtained, as something-heavenly, but onlj, however, when it happens to be o"i their own s:do. . . The regulation of the liquor trade is a subject that should be discussed and" settled by men competent to undertake the task, and not by chance majorities in localities. It should, be settled on well-defined general principles, and no; in accordance with the ever-varying caprice of an unstable multitude."