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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXX, Issue 245, 16 October 1896, Page 3

Throwing straight should bo a common accomplishment. Wo all, whether cricketers or mere citizens of the world, ■ought to be able to throw straight. In a thousand ways the art would be of use. Mr Jackson himself, when bowling at a wicket unprotected by a batsman, would hit it ten times out of ten. Mr Winans can with a revolver put bullet after billle| into a circle no bigger that a watch at niany yards histance. Unerring shots at a bird are not rare. Yet with Naturo's own weapon, the arm, hardly a man can be found who will project a stsne or ball with precision twice in succession. In primitive times the art must have been hj general practice ; and it is still needed, both as protection and amusoment. Straight throwing in cricket is ■ very desirable. Straight throwing at cats is even moro nocessary. Straight throwing at candidates went out with the hustings. Schoolboys might well give the matter their attention.

A booklet on the (Gothenburg system of liquor Bale and' control bus been written by the Rev. J. Burgess, of Kiama, New Soutb Wales. Muoh misconception, and indeed much misrepresentation would be prevented if the facts presented in tbe book were properly known. It is probably not generally known for instance, that the Gothenburg system of restricting the sale of liquor to a company, which hands over to the authorities all the profit above 5 per cent., appließ only to brandy. It was found that the distillation oi brandy was almost universal, and its consumption consequently very great. In 1855 attention was drawn to this, and the evil of it was reoognised. But the consumption of wine, beer, and porter, etc. was not large, and the sale of tbese was not included in the restrictions. The result has been that the sale of these liquors has immensely increased, and further restrictions are now contemplated. The essence of the Gothenburg system' is the elimination of private profit from the traffic, and what is sought by its advocates is that the principle should be adopted, and the d-tails altered to suit circumstances, Compensation is regarded as a side isßue, and one which should be left to the electors to decide. It will bo admitted that the advooates of the Gothenburg system make out a good case. Mr Burgesa, in particular, writes very effectively, yet does not weaken his case by exaggeration. We do not. know whether the book Sb on local Bale. It would be a good thing il i* were, for it would serve as a corrective to the exaggerations of extremists on both sides oi the liquor question.

The Arohbishop of Paris has issued a dsoree forbidding his clergy from bieyoling, on the ground that " it is incompatible with ecolnsiasiioal dignity, calculated tn lower the rider in tbe estimation of the faithful, and expose him to the taunts and mockeries of the infidel." The reason is that people are apt to laugh at a priest riding on a lady's safety, for in France tbe priest wears a cassock that comes down to bis heels. Cardinal Richard only speaks for his dincese. Apropos, the ' SpfOtator" has raised the question, of " The Bi»hop and the Bike " to the level of a " silly season " problem. It seems that a bishop may cycle without injury to bis authority, provided tbat in going down bill he does not put his feet up after the manner of giddy oyolists. To do that would not be " worthy of the main purpose of his life." This seems a hard saying, for when the bishop tastes the fierce joy of oyoling down bill, how is he to keep his gracious feet on the pedals ?