CANTERBURY JOTTINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 15, 18 January 1905, Page 6

CANTERBURY JOTTINGS.

<By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this day

THE NEW CATHEDRAL. The local Roman CathoKc Cathedral now building will be opened on February 12th with solemn blessing' and dedication by the Archbishop of Melbourne, assisted by prelates from Australia and New Zealand. Pontifical high mass will be sung by one of the visiting prelate*, and special music will be rendered by the combined choir. The dedication sermon will be preached by the Archbishop of Sydney. MR TAYLOR ON PROHIBITION. ! In his address before the Methodist Conference Mr T. Taylor, M.H.R. said there was no doubt that the prohibition sentiment was on top in New Zealand to-day. and that it was the result of a change in public opinion brought about during the past twelve years. But the liquor party was as insolent as ever, and there was as much drunkenness or more. It did seem difficult to reconcile the increasing drunkenness returns with the growth of prohibition sentiment- One explanation might be that the police, influenced by public opinion, were now more alive to their duty, but whatever was the explanation the party was making converts to total abstinence every year. The trade seemed flourishing, but public opinion, which spelt its ultimate destruction, was growing at a greater rate than the "trade." Referring to the Licensing Act of last year, Mr°Tas-lor said that it was now very good in many respects, but when first brought down it was as bad a piece of legislative proposal as was ever placed belore members. The outlook for 1905 for the party was very bright. The prohibition party would win in a wholesale manner this year. Some 40,000 new voters, boys and girls, would be placed on the roll, and at least 70 per cent, would vote no-license.