Town News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 285, 14 July 1877, Page 13

Town News.

The Hinemoa arrived from Auckland on Sunday, bringing down the Hon. Dr. Pollen, Hon. P. Whitaker, and Sir Robert Douglas. The City of Sydney, with the English mails to 31st May, left San Prancisco for Auckland on the 20th June, contract date. She will be due at Auckland to-day. His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch intimating that her Majesty will not be advised to exercise her power of disallowance of any of the Acts of last session. The official summons of Sir Prancis Dillon Bell to the Upper House appeared in last week's Gazette ; also the official record of the election of George Beetham, Esq., as member of the House of Representatives for Wairarapa.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Provincial District of Wellington has received notice from the Sheep Inspector of Rangitikei that he has cancelled the clean certificate of Mr. Charles Cameron, of Turakina, for a flock of about 1800 sheep. The following instructions regarding immi gration arrangements for the current year have been sent to the Agent-General. He is to send out 5000 immigrants altogether ; distribution to be as follows:—Auckland, 400 • Taranaki, 100 ; Wellington, 400 ; Napier, 400; Otago, 1700, including about 350 for Invercargill ; Canterbury, 1700 ; Nelson, 100 ; Blenheim, 100 ; and Westland 100. In each case there is to be as large a proportion as possible of single women, the balance being ploughmen, farm laborers, shepherds, bricklayers, and carpenters. He is not to send any large families of young children, unless nominated. The first ships should arrive in October ; but none after February. Nominated immigrants are to be p-eferred. A portion of the above will In jug from the Clyde, as formerly ; but the total number for the year is not to exceed the 5000,

Recent files received by the mail state that Mr. George Darrell's play " Transported for Life" has had a very successful run in Sydney.

The lands sold in the Provincial District of Wellington during June amounted to 7705 acres, on which deposits to the amount of £5184 were received.

A Mr. Hooper was attacked with a horsewhip by a Mrs. Baker on Tuesday. It is said that the published accounts of the affair are erroneous. The matter created some little talk in town.

The Otago Daily Times learns that the tariff rates of freight from London to New Zealand which were recently agreed to by the various shipping companies, no longer hold good, and that the rates in future will be solely regulated by open competition. We would draw attention to the prospectus of the Hnion Fire and Marine Insurance Company, which appears published in another column. As will be seen the provisional directory is most influential, and no doubt the venture will prove to be a great success, such a company will supply what is acknowledged to be a decided want.

The Ocean Mail perjury cases came to a conclusion on Tuesday, and the result was that the conviction was practically quashed. The Court decided that on certain counts of the indictment the vei-dict could not stand, and so far as these are concerned prisoners must be acquitted on them. As to the other counts prisoners were released on their own recognisances to come up for judgment when called upon, a contingency extremely improbable.

The following appears in the Otago Guardian of Monday, July 2 : —With regard to an article which appeared in the Otago Guardian of 15th May, 1876, and in which certain personal criticisms appeared upon the editor of the New Zealand Times, Mr. John M. Perrier, we are glad to state that the criticisms wo have had proof were unfounded, and we freely withdraw them, remarking more particularly that we feel satisfied Mr. Peivier in no way acted unfairly towards his predecessor, Mr. R. J. Creighton.

On Tuesday one of our reporters inspected a number of railway station panel advertisements, on view in the large room, Panama Chambers, and we notice that several of the leading merchants, shipping agents, and hotel-keepers have already taken advantage of this mode of advertising, which is becoming very popular here, as it has been for a long time in the neighboring colonies, and in England and America. Mr. Donne is the agent for an Auckland firm, who turn out these frames, the sign painting of which is really a work of art. Some of the advertisements are got up in a most elaborate style, the painting being solely in oil colors, and the effect is at once artistic and striking. No doubt this mode of advertising will be largely patronised. At the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday an apprentice belonging to the ship Broomhall named Matthew McCallum pleaded guilty to an information charging him with having, on the 2nd inst., broken-into the captain's cabin, and stolen therefrom four shirts, of the total value of £l. The evidence of the captain was to the effect that he had missed the articles enumerated on the passage out. He had for a long time past been missing property, the value of which in all amounted to about £7O, and he had reason to believe that prisoner was the thief. He did not wish particularly to press the charge, as the prisoner had respectable parents at Home, and possibly this would be a warning. The Court then sentenced the prisoner to three months' imprisonment, with hard labor. A second charge, of maliciously injuring property on the vessel, was withdrawn, as was also a similar charge against George Lye, another apprentice belonging to the same vessel.

His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales recently presided at a banquet in honor of the jubilee of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, and in responding to the toast of his health said :—" During the last three or four days I have received as many as 200 petitions from bodies in all parts of the United Kingdom begging me on no account to be present here this evening. Of course, I do not wish in any way to disparage those temperance societies, which have no doubt excellent objects in view. But I think this time they have rather overshot the mark, because the object of the meeting to-night is not to encourage the love of drink, but to support a good and excellent charity. (Applause.) I can only say, and I am sure all those here will agree with me, that no one had the interest of all those in his adopted country more at heart than my lamented father, and I feel perfectly convinced that he would neyer have been the patron of the society unless he was sure that it was one that was likely to do good and that it was deserving of his support." At their last meeting the committee of the Chamber of Commerce decided to call a general meeting of the Chamber for Wednesday, Ist August, instead of waiting till the usual time for the quarterly meeting. A quantity of business left over from the last meeting will then be disposed of, among which is a motion by Captain W. R. Williams for the establishment of a Harbor Board ; also a proposal for recommending legislation to provide means whereby absconding debtors within the colony may be arrested by the agency of the telegraph. The committee also considered a communication from the Auckland Chamber. Some merchants in Auckland having recently imported some colored sheet glass, a question arose as to whether the importation came under the designation of " sheet glass" as mentioned in the tariff. The Secretary for Customs decided that duty must be paid as for "glassware," and the duty which articles coming under that class are liable to was collected. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce believed the decision to be wrong, and wrote to the Wellington Chamber on the subject. The matter will come before the meeting on Ist August next.

We notice by our Sydney files that Mr. H. H. Davenport, who, it will be remembered, was so ill when the troupe was in Wellington,

is dead.

Thursday having been the gala day of Orangemen, a ball to celebrate the event was held in the Odd .Fellows' Hall. It will be seen by our Auckland telegram that there was a procession and certain festivities there. Daniel Heggarty, who was committed for trial for arson by the Wairarapa Bench on Tuesday, arrived in town by the last train on Wednesday, and was lodged in gaol to await his trial at the next criminal sessions of the Supreme Court to be held in Wellington. It seems that Sir George Grey abamdoned his intention of visiting the Thames and addressing his constituents before proceeding to Wellington, and at his request Councillor Dr. Kilgour went to the Kawau to talk over the requirements of the field, in view of the early sitting of the Assembly. One of the matters to be impressed upon Sir George Grey was the importance of the Thames "Valley railway, and another the non-removal of the Court House from Shortland.

Mr. Alexander Roy, Stokes Valley, has been exerting himself in collecting subscriptions for the erection of a school in that secluded district, and with the most encouraging results. The building will be proceeded with as soon as the necessary funds are in hand ; and a young lady who has gathered a number of pupils, which she teaches at present in a chapel belonging to the Primitive Methodists, will be the schoolmistress. Afterwards a local committee will be appointed, and the school placed in connection with the Board. A well-attended meeting of the Wellington Literary Association was held last Tuesday, when the question, " Would the Separation of the two Islands be advantageous to New Zealand?" was discussed ; both the affirmative and negative views being warmly supported. After the close of the debate, the question was put to the vote of the meeting, and carried in the negative. The subject for next evening's debate will be, "Is a purely vegetable diet more conducive to health than the ordinary mode of living?" The leaders on both sides being two of the society's best members, a very interesting discussion is expected. A civil case of some interest was called on at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Monday, in connection with the voyage of the ship Wennington from London to Wellington. It may be remembered that some time ago three sailors were charged at the Resident Magistrate Court with having committed a breach of the Merchant Shipping Act by refusing to obey the commands of their superior officers, ; and they were committed to a short term of imprisonment. During the hearing of that case one of the prisoners stated that the mate had on one occasion violently assaulted him, and now this man, Holm, has entered a civil action for the recovery of a sum of £SO damages for the assault complained of. The case was adjourned by consent. That vexed question about the Westport colliery reserves has been finally and satisfaefactorily settled. On Thursday last, Mr. Monro, Mayor of Westport, concluded an arrangement with the Government for the leasing to the occupants of the town sections at Westport, forming part of the colliery reserve, in reference to which a Royal Commission reported some time ago. The terms of the agreement come to are:—The leases to be issued for 21 years from the Ist July, 1877; the rent for the first seven years to be £5, £2 10s., and £l, according to position, per annum. For the socond seven, an advance of one-third; and for the last seven years, double the rent paid during the first. The arrears of rent which are to be paid will be calculated upon a basis supplied by Mr. Carrington, late Superintendent of Taranaki. The above arrangement entirely upsets the recommendations of the Royal Commission. The Marlborough Education Board has raised the salaries of its teachers 40 per cent. The Canterbury Board has also increased the pay of its employes, and Otago has followed suit. These Boards are evidently doing what they can for their teachers while they have the power. The Wellington Board does not appear to be making any move in this direction. Are its members so satisfied with things as they new are as to think that any improvement in the incomes of their teachers is not necessary ? The teachers in the Wellington District are not a grumbling class. They have, with few exceptions, quietly put up with such sa'aries as the Board has thought fit to pay.them. But it does not follow from this that the teachers in the district should not participate in the increase of emoluments which is now becoming the order of the day. Mr. Dugard was to the fore again on Thursday, but ou this occasion there was nothing of an osculatory character connected with the programme he attained. It appears that Mr. Dugard recently sold his hotel at the Upper Hutt to Mr. Chaney, and has since been in town. This fact having reached the ears of his creditors, a smart watch was kept on Dugard, and he was ultimately arrested at the door of the Melbourne Hotel, and taken before the Magistrate's Court to answer a judgment summons for £22 9s. 4d., issued at the instance of Messrs. Pascoe and Co., brewers. On being examined Mr. Pascoe stated that he had every reason to believe defendant contemplated escaping from Wellington in the barque Australind without paying his debts, although he was supposed to have a considerable sum of money, and passages for a man and woman had been taken in that vessel. The result of the action taken by Mr. Pascoe was that Dugard, who declined to pay the money, was taken to gaol, his Worship having made an order for instant payment, or in default one month's imprisonment, a similar order being made in cases brought by G. Dixon, for £7 Is.; J. McDowell and Co., for £6 03. 7d.; and N. J. Isaacs, for £4 lis. 4d. On being searched at the gaol the only money found on Dugard was £1 some odd shillings.

A man named William Reid was found dead in an outhouse at Palmerston North on Tuesday morning. It is supposed that death was caused by excessive drinking. The Post Office officials met on Wednesday for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr. Tabuteau, a popular and efficient officer in the Post Office, he having been transferred to Chr.'stehurch. He was presented with a handsomely mounted pipe and silver match box. Mr. Tabuteau is the son of an old and respected servant of the Government, now occupying the position of Collector of Customs in Napier.

A meeting of the Petoni settlers was held on Thursday at the Criterion Hotel to consider what measures should be taken for a road from their homesteads to the public highway, the one that has been in use for the last thirty years being fenced off by the natives. After some discussion, it was eventually agreed to send a memorial to the Hutt County Council to at once remedy the evil. We learn by a correspondent's telegram from Dunedin that a number of gentlemen have been named in the Otago Daily Times as about to be called to seats in the Legislative Council. We cannot say what sources of private information the Otago Daily Times may have; but we have very good reasons for stating our belief that no further additions to the roll of Legislative Councillors, beyond that of Sir F. Dillon Bell, will be made during this year by the present Government. A literary and musical entertainment,in connection with the\ oung Men's Wesley an Mutual Improvement Society, was given in the Dixonstreet schoolroom last Friday. There was a numerous attendance of ladies and gentlemen, who testified their thorough appreciation of the entertainment, which consisted of songs, recitations, &c. There was some excellent vocalisation, and some of the recitations were very much above mediocrity. These pleasant social gatherings have become very popular, and bid fair to be still more so.

The first of the promenade concerts in connection with the new skating season was given on Thursday in St. George's Hall. Seats were ranged round the floor in a circle, leaving an open space for the rinkers. The concert was a complete success, as may be easily imagined when such old favorites as Miss Howarde and Miss Navaro, assisted by other talent, were the performers. The vocal selections were choice and admirably ax-ranged. Miss Navaro sang several tunes during thi evening, and her sweet contralto voice found great favor with the audience. Miss Howarde rendered a number of songs in her usual masterly style, and the two ladies sang the duets " Sainted Mother" and "Ye Banks" splendidly, eliciting an enthusiastic encore, the voices blending excellently, and the effect was very fine. Mr. Hunter also sang during the evening several songs in capital style. During the intervals the rinkers exercised themselves, so that there was from start to finish something to engage the attention of the audience. These promenade concerts are likely to become as popular in Wellington as they have proved elsewhere, as in addition to the attraction presented by the concert, there is the feature of novelty to be taken into consideration.

"fsJLnother dreadful case of suicide- has oc-' curred, and the victim is a man tolerably well known in Wellington. It appears that Constable Ryan on Friday found the body of Mr. C. T. Brown near the Half-way House, on the Porirua-road. It was hanging by the neck from a post-and-rail fence that bounds the road. Life was quite extinct, and appearances suggested that he had been dead some hours. It was apparently a most determined case of suicide, accomplished by fastening a silk handkerchief tightly round the neck, and attaching one end to the top rail of the fence. The unfortunate man must have literally lain down in order to effect bis dreadful purpose, for there was not sufficient room to drop. When the body was searched, a purse containing £4 3s. 3d. was found in one of the pockets. No sign of liquor could be found about the scene of the suicide. The deceased had held a respectable position in Wellington, having been engaged for some time in business as surveyor and draughtsman, and more recently he was engaged in the Public Works Department. An inquest was held at Ames's Hotel, Johnsonville, on Saturday, before Dr Taylor and a jury of twelve. Evidence having been taken, the jury returned the following verdict:—That the said Thomas Carey Brown committed suicide while in a state of unsound mind; a rider being added to the effect that the jury regret the very small amount of attention the deceased appeared to have received from his own family. The adjourned case Holm v. Flanagan—a claim of £50 —came on for hearing at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, when Mr. Fitzherbert appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Buckley for the defendant. The evidence for the plaintiff was to the effect that on the 19th May he had been splicing the mam-royal sheet, and had overlooked some loose rope in the rigging. On coming down on deck, the defendant, who was mate of the ship, told him he was a treble adjective useless person, and struck him on the face and head, and then, jumping on the skylight, kicked him violently several times in the thigh and ribs, and although the plaintiff was much hurt he was not permitted to leave off work until his watch below, when he complained to the captain, and went to the doctor. He had to lie up for two or three days owing to the injury to his side. Corroborative evidence was brought, and then the defendant's side of the story was heard. It was to the effect generally that Holm had been very troublesome, not only to the officers, but the crew. The defendant did not deny having struck the man, but stated that he had been provoked by insolence, and a distinct refusal to do duty when ordered, and this was substantiated by the second and third mates and other witnesses, although the exact nature i of the insolence could not be specified. His J Worship, in giving judgment, remarked that j although it was admitted to be highly necessary to maintain discipline on board a vessel,

yet the mate had adopted the very method by which that discipline would be subverted. There appeared to have been no evidence of mutinous conduct on the part of the crew, and although hinted at, there had been no evidence of insolent language on the part of the plaintiff, and, therefore, no excuse for the action of the chief officer. The mode he adopted of treating men was not of a character calculated to keep order amongst seamen, but was rather of an opposite nature. The assault, however, had not been of a very serious character, and would be amply met by a verdict of £5 and costs.

With regard to the weekly war telegrams from the Agents-General in London, it may be worth while mentioning that Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, looks upon the whole affair as an amateur attempt to perform the duties of the Press. His opinion is that the Press, in the collection of such intelligence as is expected to be received from the AgentsGeneral, can defeat any Government, and he thinks it jjossible that the Government telegrams will contain what the Press will have already received, or about to have transmitted to them. He asks, how else can it be? The Agents-General are in their office, and can only get the news from the London Press, which may probably be some hours after its transmission to Australia. They are, furthermore, not ' likely to get any more news, for intelligence of signal importance to the colonips would be transmitted direct to the Governors by the Imperial authorities. Sir Henry Parkes agreed to the proposal, not that he expected much from it, but because he did not wish to stand out from what the other Governments so readily agreed to. The directors of the Wellington Gas Company met on Wednesday afternoon, and it was resolved to pay an interim dividend at the rate of five per cent, for the half-year on the paid-up capital, say £27,000. The manager reported that the works in course of construction were progressing satisfactorily, and in all probability would be completed within the next three or four months, when it would be practicable to produce a greatly increased quantity of gas. It was determined to reduce the price Is. per 1000 ft. whenever the new works now in hand were finished, and the Board hope to be able to make a further reduction of Is. per 1000 ft. when the new gasholder, capable of containing 180,000 ft. of gas, which was recently sent for, is erected and ready for use. Three orders have been despatched for mains and smaller sized pipes, and a large quantity of material of various kinds has been shipped by the Endymion and Zealandia, and an extensive order is in course of preparation to follow by the next vessel leaving London for Wellington. The manager was directed to lay all the mains in stock in the most populous localities in the city, and to be prepared for distributing the two parcels expected shortly, as the Board wish to place the company in a position to meet all demands as promptly as possible.

WELCOME TO MR. E. C. E. MILLS. Last Friday a social gathering of the employes of Mr. E. W. Mills took place at the Polytechnic Hall, for the purpose of offering a public welcome to their employer's eldest son, Mr. E. C. E. Mills, on his return from Europe and America. It partook of the character of a dinner and ball; and about 150 sat down to a substantial dinner. The room was very tastefully decorated with evergreens and flags, and the brilliant appearance of the room was added to by the circumstance that a number of ladies were present. Dinner over, The Chairman (Mr. Edward Gibbs) gave " The Queen," " The Governor," &c, -which were loyally responded to. Mr. Gibbs then proposed the toast of the evening, "Our Guest, E. C. E. Mills, Esq." He said he need not make a speech, as the feelings with which the employes regarded their guest that night, and the purpose for which they had met that evening, would be gathered by the following address, which he read :

Wellington, July 6, 1877. To E. C. E. Mills, Esq.—Bear Sir, —We, the employes of the various branches of your esteemed father's establishment, having a desire to greet you in a body, on your return to New Zealand, have met here this evening for the purpose of offering you a sincere and hearty welcome. We rejoice that you are once more amongst us. after so long and hazardous a journey, and having escaped the many perils that are encountered on a voyage round the world. "We hope, as we believe, that the various countries and scenes that you have passed through have afforded you some considerable pleasure, and it must be a great source of gratification to have had such an opportunity to compare the m my gigantic commeicial emporitims you have visited both in the American and European Continents ; and we have no doubt that the experience gained by these visits will materially assist you in furthering the trade of this, the Empire City of our adopted country, and making it not only the first city of New Zealand in name, but in commercial reality. Many of us have been connected with the different branches of the establishment from your earliest years, and have watched with much interest your progress in commercial life ; and we feel sure, judging from the past, that this city will be proud to acknowledge you as one of her foremost sons of commerce. "We hope, earnestly hope, th.it the good feeling that has so long existed between us and your respected father and yourself may for years continue ; and we sincerely trust that you may enjoy many long years of health and happiness and possess all the blessings that this life can afford. We beg respectfully to subscribe ourselves on behalf of the employes. [Here follow the signatures.]

Mr. Mills in rising to respond was received with loud cheers. lie said he could scarcely find words with which to thank them for such a kind demonstration of good feeling as had been shown to him. He thought that the esteem in which they held his good father, not any merit of his own, had led them to be so kind (No, no). However, he could assure them it gave him great pleasure to be amongst them all again, and to see around him so many old familiar faces ; and if he had not deserved their esteem in the past, he should endeavor to do so in the future. (Hear, hear.) He reciprocated their kindly hopes that the visit would be productive of good to himself and his father. What he had seen had certainly surprised him, and edified him ; but he had seen no place to please him better than Wellington—and if one thing had been more

forcibly impressed upon his mind than anything else, it was that position, to a great extent made a city ; and he _ felt certain that from her commanding position and fine harbor, Wellington must advance in future even more rapidly than heretofore. He had remarked the attention New Zealand attracted in the minds of the people of the countries he had visited. Again and again he had been asked what sort of a place New Zealand was. Of course he had said the best he could for the colony, and he thought he had turned several doubters as to the advisableness of coming out here. In a few further remarks he again thanked the company for the lienor done him. (Applause.) Mr. Seager then proposed the " Health of Mr. E. W. Mills and family." He said Mr. Mills was a thorough friend to the workingman.

Mr. E. W. MILLS thanked Mr. Seager and the other employes very sincerely for the kind manner in which they had drunk his health and that of his family. He assured them it afforded him the greatest possible gratification to meet them, especially when he saw around him not only men who, after serving their apprenticeship with him, had gone out into the world and assumed respectable positions, but also men who had remained with him, and had now, some of them, been in his employ twenty years. He thought a great deal of cultivating a spirit of friendship betw en master and man. Each should study the other's interest. This had been done by himself and his employes in the past, and he knew with the greatest satisfaction that his employes had individually prospered. In no instance had they got on the wrong track, and all of them, with their wives and families and comfortable homes, were a credit to the city. He thanked them for the manner in which they had welcomed his son, and he appreciated their good wishes for his son's welfare, and felt that their wishes would be realised. His son had greater advantages than he (the speaker) had, and he had no doubt the best use would be made of them. (Applause.) Mr. E. Gibbs proposed " Our Visitors," and Mr. J. F. E. Weight responded, remarking that it was the visitors who were under a compliment in having the privilege of meeting so highly respectable a body of workmen. " The Ladies" was given by Mr. Sydney Wright, and responded to by Mr. Carpenter, and this closed the toasting. The hall was cleared, and dancing commenced and kept up till the "wee sma' hours " had well advanced, when all retired thoroughly pleased with the enjoyment of the evening.

INQUEST ON THE BODY OF GEORGE CLEVELAND. An inquest was held on Monday at the Royal Oak Hotel, before Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury, on the body of a man discovered on the beach on Sunday afternoon. Of the jury Win. Langford was elected foreman. The jury having been briefly addressed by the coroner, retired to view the body, and on returning the following evidence was taken : Andrew Wilson deposed: I am a seaman belonging to the schooner Excelsior, now lying in Wellington harbor. I have seen the deceased. I recognise the body. It is that of George Cleveland. He was about sixty years of age. I believe he is a married man, and that his family live in Auckland or at the Thames. I left the deceased on Saturday night last at about 8 o'clock at the fishermen's wharf, Te Aro. Deceased was not sober, but he was not very drunk. I offered to take him on board the schooner, as the boat was lying at the wharf, but deceased refused to allow me to accompany him, saying he was capable of taking the boat off to the schooner by himself. I, having been paid off, therefore stopped on shore. I saw deceased get into the boat and leave, after having taken from me a bottle of kerosene and a lamp, which I handed to him. The weather was fine, and I thought there was no danger in his going away by himself. I stood on the wharf quite five minutes after he had left. He appeared to manage the boat perfectly well, proceeding straight in the direction of the Excelsior. Next day I saw the captain, who informed me that Cleveland had not returned to the vessel, but that the boat had been discovered somewhere near the wharf. The kerosene and lamp were in the boat when the boat was found. There was only one oar in the boat when it was found. I believe there were two oars in the boat when it left the wharf.

William Joyner deposed : I am a master mariner. I was captain of the schooner Excelsior, but I handed her over to the owner on Thursday last. I have known the deceased for many years. He acted as mate of the schooner. He shipped with me at Lyttelton about three weeks ago. I saw him last alive about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, opposite Barrett's Hotel. The deceased was sober, but I could tell that he had had a glass. He was then in good health and spirits. He told me that he was going to send his wife £2, having received £4 from me on the day before. I did not see him alive after that, but at about ten o'clock on Sunday morning I was told that the vessel's boat had been found adrift. In the afternoon of Sunday I went on board the schooner, which was deserted and the cabin door locked. Having heard from the previous witness that deceased had started for the ship, I at once concluded that deceased in sculling the boat* had overbalanced himself and fallen over the side, taking the oar with him. I think he must have done this, because no one man could overturn the boat, which was very heavy. Deceased was a good seaman, having a mate's certificate. I have no doubt but that his death was the result of an accident such as I have described.

The Coroner was of opinion that this was sufficient evidence. They were not likely to get more, at least. Personally he had no doubt that by 8 o'clock the deceased had more liquor than was good for him ; but there seemed no reasonable ground for blaming the seaman who gave evidence as to seeing off the

deceased, who ifc appeared was determined to go alone in the boat ; and, on the other hand, his companions up to that time having been discharged from the vessel, had no business there. The jury concurred with this view of the case, and without further consideration, found the following verdict:—"That deceased was found drowned in Wellington harbor ; but how he became drowned there is no evidence to show."

WASTE LANDS BOARD. The usual fortnightly meeting of the Waste Lands Board took place on Thursday at noon. Present—The Chief Commissioner, Messrs. Bunny, Walter Johnston, and Mason. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. LANDS OPEN. The Chief Commissioner said in accordance with promise he had, at the suggestion of Mr. Mason, since last meeting, considered the question of affording greater publicity as to the land available in the provincial district. He had prepared a schedule of all lands open for sale, giving the upset price, and other information. He had written a title page, and sent the whole to the Government, with a request that it should be printed. He proposed to get 500 copies printed, a number of which would be distributed in the various athenaeums, public libraries, and reading rooms. Persons wishing to obtain copies might do so on application. In the office a number would be kept, and these would be coiTecfced up to date as sales went on. Mr. Mason expressed satisfaction at the course that had been adopted. APPLICATION FOR NATIVE RESERVES. The Chief Commissioner read an abstract of certain correspondence which had passed between Mr. Tolhurst and himself in respect of 310 acres in the Rangitikei District, which the former wished to purchase. Mr. Tolhurst had been informed that the land applied for was a native reserve, but he had persisted in his application, believing the land was available. The matter was left over till next meeting to enable Mr. Tolhurst to support his application if he chose to do so. THE MASTERTON SMALL FARMS ASSOCIATION. Mr. G. Beetham, M.H.R., attended on behalf of this body to prefer fresh terms. He had on previous occasions gone so fully into what appeared to him to be the merits of the question, that he should now content himself by merely reading the following memorandum of terms submitted to the Waste Lands Board by the Masterton Small Farm Association :

1. That a block of land known as the Makahaka block should be set apart for the purposes of the Mastertoa Small Farm Association, subject to the following conditions:— 2. That the price pajable for the above land should be thirty shillings (305.) per acre, payment to extend over the period of ten years in equal annual instalments. 3. That such land should be intersected with blocks set apart for sale by cash payments, in the proportion of one cash payment block between each and every of the two blocks set apart for sale on deferred payments (one third portion for cash sale). 4. That a block of not less than two hundred acres should be set apart for a township at a site hereafter to be agreed upon. That the association should purchase the site of the township for cash, the necessary surveys to be made by the Board. 5. That the Waste Lands Board should make due provisions within the boundaries of the blocks for the neeessary reserves for recreation, cemeteries, educational, and other purposes.

6. That one third part of the money received as instalments by the Waste Lands Board should be returned to the properly constituted authority having charge of the roads of the district, for the purpose of forming and maintaining the roads within the boundaries of the block.

7. That not less than five per centum of the land held under the above conditions be cleared and cultivated annually. 8. That the extent of the blocks should be a matter for future arrangement between the Board and the Association.

Mr. Johnston said if these were the only terms the association had to offer, he saw no reason whatever for rescinding the previous resolution, refusing to treat the association in exceptional manner. The conditions of residence had been carefully left out, and the price they offered was too low, and beyond all that, they asked the Board to appropriate the revenue of the colony, a power it did not possess. In the interest of settlement, such propositions should be refused. If the association wanted the land, let them compete for it at public auction, on the same terms as other settlers.

Mr. Beetham remarked with reference to the point as to the appropriation of the revenues of the colony, that he had found some difficulty in drafting the clause. There had seemed to be a wish that the association should make roads, and the easiest way appeared to be that they should pav an extra price, conditionally that the extra money were returned for road making purposes. Mr. Bonny expressed disappointment at the proposals of the association. They appealed to wish to drive a very one-sided bargain. The block was the most valuable in the district yet they wanted it at 30s. per acre, payment to be extended over ten years. Mr. MASON also strongly opposed agreement with the proposition. After some further conversation the Board declined unanimously to cancel the previous resolution refusing to accede to the request of the association. road lines. Mr. MASON inquired of the chief surveyor (Mr. Jackson) respecting the mode of selecting roads in new country. & Mr. Jackson said the department always endeavored to lay out the most practicable

roads, but frequently difficulties arose owing to persons having selected before roads were laid out. The plan now adopted was to lay out roads first and select the land afterwards.

In answer to a question from Mr. JOHNSTON, Mr. Jackson said he had been arranging necessary preliminaries for the past week or two, but tenders for the survey between Waikanae and Upper Hutt would be out immediately. The Board then adjourned.

WORKING MEN'S CLUB. _ A meeting of those interested in the formation of a working-man's club was held on Tuesday evening in the sideroom of the Odd Pellow's Hall. There was a very large attendance, and the general character of the meeting was such as to indicate that a deep interest is taken in this very desirable movement. His Worship the Mayor was elected to the chair. The Mayor, in taking the chair, said he not only felt honored but gratified by being asked to preside over the meeting. He' was with the promoters of a Working Man's Club most heartily, and whether the present effort should be a success or not, he felt satisfied that it would not be altogether lost. There was no place like a happy home, —all those personal and social virtues, which they proudly associated with the British name, centred iu home and home life, —but there were large numbers of young men and others among them who had not yet got homes of their own, and in all of them there were social instincts, which could only be gratified in meeting with their fellows from time to time and interchanging sentiments one with another ; and for all these the club came in as a comfortable meeting-place. The publichouse had hitherto been the poor man's club ; but the present aim was to give him a better and a greatly cheaper one, —a room where he could sit comfortably and smoke his pipe, or otherwise enjoy himself. He believed such an institution was wanted ; it would be helpful to other beneficial social movements, and having started they must go into it with a determination to make the venture a success. With this view they must be willing to take and give with each other. Beyond the rules which they may jointly agree to, there should be large liberty to the members. He believed that the more they associated together—the more they possessed places of mutual instruction and entertainment, free from any restrictions except such as they imposed upon themselves—the more they were moulded and moved by brotherly sympathy—the more surely would they be emancipated from the dominion of mere sensual gratification. They would now proceed to business. committee's report.

The Secretary, being called upon, then read the report as follows : " Pour meetings have since been held. At the first meeting the rules of the Dunedin Working Men's Club came under consideration, and after careful attention they were generally approved of ; but your committee deemed it necessary to make some amendments, which will be submitted for your approval or otherwise this evening. " A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Jones, Capper, and Lewis, were appointed to look after suitable premises for the club. At the next meeting they reported that they had found premi-es in Taranaki-place, which they thought would answer admirably, the rental of which would be 30s. per week. It will be for you to approve of their action or otherwise, as the sub-committe were authorised to take the premises for six months, subject to your approval. "Your committee, in order to give due publicity to what was being done, deemed it advisable to have 200 circulars printed and distributed, which has accordingly been done. " Your committee decided to hold this meetin the Odd Pellows' Hall, as it was thought to be more centrally situated than the Foresters' Hall.

" With regard to a steward and stewardess, the matter received the attention of your committee ; but they took no steps, as they thought the subject was one to be dealt with by the standing committee, which you will be called upon to elect this eveninsr. "The committee would also tender their sincere thanks to the editors of the Wellington journals for the assistance they have rendered towards the establishment of the club, and for the many valuable suggestions which they have given in their papers. " They also beg to tender their thanks to Mr. Capper, Molesworth-street, for his kindness in placing his residence at the disposal of the committee.

"In conclusion, your committee would express a hope that the club will be a success, and from the many favorable comments which they have heard from the public, and the favorable manner in which it has been criticised by the Press, that such will be the case. Your committee are hopeful that the club will not only be a boon in a social point of view, but that it will yet prove an educational blessing as well. As the club grows strong, your committee are hopeful of being able to procure a good library, and in the course of time they may be able to get up courses of lectures, and such, other things as may tend to elevate the class for whom the club is specially intended in an intellectual point of A'iew. Your committee also hope to see agvmnasium, and other amusements such as they have in connection with working men's clubs on the Continent of Europe." The Chairman remarked that the practical point in the report appeared to be the renting of premises, and he asked for expressions of opinion on the subject. Mr. Capper, as one of the sub-committee, remarked that the premises alluded to in Tara-naki-place appeared to him to be admirably adapted to the wants of the society, at present at least, so far as its position and accommodation Avere concerned.

Mr. Galvin supplemented the last speaker's remarks by saying that the premises of Mr. Lovell, who was willing to let them to the club, were larger to a considerable extent than

the others, but the rent was 10s. additional to that asked for the smaller premises in Taranaki-street, the rent asked for which was 30s. per week. The only objection to Mr. Lovell's place appeared to be, firstly, the extra rent; and secondly, the fact that the house had formerly been occupied as a boarding-house. Mr. Galvin suggested that the matter should be loft in the hands of the standing committee.

A discussion arose as to the suitability of premises for holding a billiard table, which it was contemplated to purchase. Mr. Galvin said it had been resolved not to expend more than £25 at once in providing means of amusement, and for a short time it was thought better to content themselves with chess, cards, &c. The Mayor remarked that the meeting would do well to give the committee power to purchase a billiard table, as it would, he thought, be found necessary. In answer to a question, Mr. Claridge, the secretary, stated that it had been decided by the committee to adopt the Dunediu Club's rales, by which drink would be allowed in the club. Mr. Short moved, and Mr. Claridge seconded, and it was carried, —That the report be adopted, subject to the leasing of premises being left iu the hands of the committee. rules. The rules prepared were then read, and gave general satisfaction. It was resolved,—That the rules as read be the rules of the Working Men's Club. THE ENROLMENT OF MEMBERS Was the next business before the meeting, prior to proceeding with which, however, Mr. Jennings read a letter he had received from a member of the Dunedin Working Men's Club, which has been signally successful, as was indicated by a statement contained in the letter to the effect the large new building erected by the club would be opened in a month, and that the event would be celebrated by a supper and ball. The enrolment of members was then proceeded with, and all those present not previously members came forward spontaneously to have their names put down on the list and pay their entrance fees, over £7 being collected. There are now between 60 and 70 members on the roll. His Worship the Mayor and Mr. S. Brown (contractor) were enrolled hon. members. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The next buiness was the "election of office bearers. Mr. Galvin moved, and it was carried, — That His Excellency be requested to become a patron of the Working Men's Club. The following officers were then appointed : —President, Mr. P. Galvin ; secretary, Mr. Claridge ; treasurer, Mr. Warcup ; trustees, his Worship the Mayor and Mr. James Brown; committee, Messrs. W. Austin, Capper, G. Richardson, Jennings, and Harper. This concluded the business, and after a vote of thanks to the chair and to the local Press for assistance rendered towards the formation of the club, the meeting dispersed.

CONFERENCE ON THE LIQUOR • ■ ." I TRAFFIC. The adjourned conference in reference to the liquor laws of the colony was held in the Provincial Hall on Monday evening at half-past 7 o'clock, the Yen. Archdeacon Stock being elected to the chair in the absence of Bishop Hadfield through indisposition. The Chairman, in opening his address, expressed regret at the absence of the Bishop, and referred to the excellent and temperate speech delivered by Bishop Hadfield at the previous meeting of the conference. He should be very sorry, he continued, to say anything which would in the smallest way have the effect of undoing the influence which that speech was calculated to exercise, or of any of the speeches made on the occasion to which he referred. He was undesirous of saying much, for that reason, and also because he had had bis say alreaiy. He felt very strongly that something should be done in this matter, and he had consequently written certains letters to the Press, for the purpose of doing a little towards working up an agitation on the subject, in reference to which he felt very deeply indeed. He entertained this feeling both as a clergyman (because the nature of his duties gave him peculiar opportunities, not open to the laity, of witnessing the terrible effects from a social point of view which the habit of drinking had upon the community); and as a citizen, because drunkenness manifestly did an injury to the State. He might mention that it would be his duty to bring before the Benevolent Society, of which he was a member, resolutions referring to cases of poverty caused simply by drunkenness. Now, he felt that the Benevolent Society should not have to relieve such cases. But they were in this fix, they desired to afford the assistance asked for, and yet at the same time were conscious that by doing so they would be to a certain extent encouraging drunkenness. Therefore, he contended they had a right to expect that a limit should be put to ber of public-houses. He had been very much struck by a conversation he' had had with Mr. Grace, of Wainuiomata, in reference to this point. That gentleman had steadfastly set his face against having a public-house in that district. He told the people that if they must have liquor, they could keep it m their own house ; but if he could prevent it they should have no public-house there, for the simple reason that it would surely l 3a d to the introduction of an evil at present nonextstent there. He (Mr. Stock) thought the people of Wellington should be animated by -a similar spirit and do all they could to limit the number of public-houses in town He heard it said that there were no more publichouses in town now than there were twenty years ago, and he was very much astonished to hear that statement made. He was astonished, because if it was now an admitted fact that they were the cause of a wide-spreadin" evil,what must have been the condition of the j

people twenty years ago in Wellington, with the same number of public-houses and a very much smaller population. Turning now to another phase of the question. It had been stated that there was less of adulteration in the liquor sold than was generally supposed. Well, all he knew was that a very strong suspicion was entertained that such a practice obtained. When he first came here he spoke to an officer of the 56th Regiment, who assured him that there was less harm done by the amount of liquor consumed than by the bad quality of the liquor sold. He had spoken to the men when they came before him for such offences, asking them, for instance, how it was that they had managed to get drunk, and the reply too frequently was that they did not know—that they had taken less than would under ordinary circumstances make them drunk, but yet had been suddenly overcome. The natural inference to be drawn from this was that the liquor was adulterated—poisoned, in fact. He might mention another instance, which did not occur in Wellington. A traveller informed him of the curious circumstance that having been served in a public-house with some liquor, he found on consuming it that there rested in the bottom of the glass some indissoluble sugar, of a blue color. Now, as to the remedy for this, the accomplishment of which was so much doubted. They could reach the publican at least, and his security should be this : when he ordered a quantity of liquor he should bottle off a small portion, and preserve it in the cellar, so that should he be discovered to be serving bad drink he could produce those bottles to show that it was the merchant and not he that was to blame, the liquor having been sold to him in the state in which he retailed it to his customers. If this were done and if for every conviction a publican were fined, there would be little likelihood of a man dealing with a merchant twice who had served him with bad wines or spirits. He (Mr. Stock) would also impose a fine for serving drunken men with drink. If a man, .known to be a drunkard, was served with liquor, he would fine the publican who served him or permitted him to be served in his house, for such a practice—and it had became only too common—was, indeed, a great cruelty. A very excellent measure was introduced by Mr. Fitzgerald, of Canterbury, one of its provisions being that if a man was known to be a drunkard his photograph should be taken, and copies distributed round the various public-houses in town, in order to avoid his being able to indulge in the vice which had become a deep-rooted habit; and the result of that measure, he had Mr. Fitzgerald's assurance, had been a very marked success. It Avas admitted generally that such things did exist, and yet they were told that there Avas no remedy for them; but surely it Avas an extraordinary thing that Avhere an evil existed nothing should be done in the way of endeavoring to prevent it. If we could not make a man sober by law, we could at least pass a law to put temptation out of his Avay. He very much wished old institution, the stocks, Avas in force nowadays ; and when a man got drunk he would have him placed there for a few hours, so that everyone should know him for what he was. It might be said that this would be taking strong measures ; but. surely something must be done. • Were they to sit down quietly and see their fellow-men ruined ? It had been said that the conference had done nothing definite at its last meeting; but he was of a contrary opinion. Attention had been drawn to the subject, and he thought they had done something in having called together at a somewhat unreasonable hour a large number of gentlemen who had shoAvn themselves to be deeply interested in the matter. Had that been made a public meeting there Avould have been no room to contain the numbers Avho would have attended, and he felt firmly convinced now that this movement would not be allowed to settle doAvn until something definite had been decided on—this evil that they so much deplored Avould not be alloAved to remain a blot on the town. He would point out to the conference that there was one direction in which citizens might act towards the abatement of the evil. It Avas this. Were he permitted to act as a juryman, he would never give his sanction to some of the verdicts recorded at coroners' inqueste, where it Avas indisputably shown that the cause of death was directly attributable to drink. He would not be found bringing in a verdict simply of " Found drowned," Avhen he knew perfectly Avell that the unfortunate man had met his death because he Avas helplessly drunk ; and further, he would include in the record the name of the particular public-house he was known to enter and stop for a certain time prior to the fatal accident. It might be casting a stigma on the name of the departed; but was it not even Avell to do that, if by so doing they could hope to benefit the erring ones who remained, and Avho by persisting in their evil courses, might meet Avith a similar fate? If this course were adopted, Ave should not hear of a verdict "died from natural causes" in a case Avhere death was produced by the unnatural conduct of a brute of a husband Avho, at a time Avhen his Avife required the greatest kindness and attention, treated her Avith systematic cruelty and neglect. No means should be ntglected to less, n this dreadful evil, and a good deal might be done towards its reduction if people would only have the honesty and courage to speak the truth. (Applause.)

Mr. C. P. POWLES, being called upon by the Chairman, then read the minutes of the last meeting, which Avere duly confirmed. Dr. Newman thought that a mistake Avas made in supposing that the real remedy Avas to be obtained by appealing to the Legislature. They should go to the root of the matter, and endeavor to ascertain the cause that led people to drink, and then provide, if pessible, a check. They heard a good deal about adulteration of liquor, for instance ; but he was of opinion that the spread of drunkenness could not be largely attributed to that. Medical papers Avent to shmv that this was so. Personally he was of opinion that drunkenness was caused through

poverty in the houses of the poorer classes, and want of proper nourishment. What they wanted were institutions where the working men could go and spend their evenings rationally. If we could discover a means of ameliorating the condition of the lower classes; educate the women who were destined to become the wives of working men; make them really domestic, so that the many thousands of houses would be a source of comfort and enjoyment ; instead of, as was too frequently the case at present, a source of misery and general discomfort. Working men's clubs might also be established, and the result would be the attainment of a higher social standard among the working classes. A member of the conference disagreed with the last speaker as to the causes of drunkenness, and added that no matter what liquor men drank, it was still poison, and if no means could be found to prevent the sale of the article, there would be little chance of the evil being reduced. Another gentleman (whose name our reporter did not know) expressed the opinion that the chief reason of excessive intemperance was the fact that in the liquor traffic two trades were united in one—the hotel and the public-house. No one could go into a house of accommodation without having the drink staring him in the face. The "Local Option Bill, he contended, would not be found effective for good. The traffic was patronised by the people, and sanctioned by the people. Mr. Shaw said, with reference to the subject under discussion, that he had from time to time thought a great deal of the evils resulting from the trade in liquor. He regarded it as sapping the foundation not only of health, but it was beginning to threaten our liberty, because the publicans formed a very powerful political organisation. It appeared to him that there were two points of view from which it was necessary to look at this subject, the measure of social science being the chief of these. They never would radically cure drunkenness by Act of Parliament. He firmly believed in seeking for the satisfaction of a legitimate human desire, the desire for association, society, and of this want the interested party —or otherwise the publican—took advantage. A partial remedy, he thought, for this was to be found in the establishment of working mens' clubs, a movement in which he had greatly interested himself in Dunedin, and which had been signally successful. Social amelioration should be the great object sought after, and that should be taken in hand by the people themselves. By this means we should be cutting the ground from under this dreadful trade in drink. Mr. Shaw then referred to the practice of adulterating liquor, and showed how certain publicans, by ingenious doctoring of the drink they sold, managed to relieve unfortunate men of all their money, and then turned them from the door. He did not think purely repressive measures would ever affect a permanent cure. He was struck with a suggestion made by Mr. Travers, that it would be wise to prevent (if possible) people giving so much credit, which would no doubt have an indirect influence for good. Mr. Shaw then referred the meeting to some extracts from a measure relating to the liquor law in an American State, and read out certain of its provisions. Ist. No man should sell liquor without a license, and no man should have a license without entering into a bond of 3000 dollars to repay all damage arising out of the sale of liquor in his house. 2nd. No liquor should be sold to minors. 3rd. All places where intoxicating liquors were sold, contrary to law, should be held to be a public nuisance. 4th. If any man, with or without a license, should cause a a man to become intoxicated, he should pay a reasonable compensation to the person who took care of the inebriate, to be recovered by action at law, and an action may be taken against the owner of the house in which the intoxication takes place. These provisions might be regarded as being rather severe, but he really thought they might be made to have a very beneficial influence as regarded the diquor traffic. There could be no doubt that the licensing law as it at present stood was very unsatisfactory. Mr. Woolcock, M.H.R., after some preliminary remarks, said they had all come to one conclusion as to the evils of drunkenness, and there was a general agreement as to the propriety of legislative action to ameliorate these evils; but a question arose as to whether there should be a licensing law, which of course gave certain monopolies to certain persons, or whether there should be free trade in liquor. It was pretty well agreed that the Legislature should interfere by imposing a licensing law. He had arrived at the conclusion that drunkenness was influenced, and increased or decreased, according to the number of publichouses ; and if this were so, it was the duty of the Legislature to reduce the number of public-houses. Therefore he should suggest that the number of public-houses should be fixed at a certain proportion to the population. If the screw were to be put on in this direction, it would be a favor to grant a license, and the onus of proving the necessity for a public-house should rest with the people themselves. (Hear, hear.) This would be a much better course than putting the people in the position of having to object to a public-house. Mr. COSTALL advocated the preparation of a measure providing a better regulation of the liquor traffic, and repression and prohibition of unnecessary houses ; and he spoke warmly of the necessity of giving opponents of temperance measures in Parliament no opportunity of gaying that the people were not anxious for legislation, and to that end he would prepare petitions numerous and strong. In further remarks he said gentlemen who had stated there was no adulteration practised in the colony, knew nothing about the matter. He was in a position to state positively that there were merchants in Wellington %vho were guilty of the grossest adulteration, and who had wines in their cellars as dead as dead could be, but which, as demand arose, were quickened and enlivened by a process which he dared not explain. Those who had been engaged in the work of transformation had themselves informed him

that were people to see the bottoms of certain casks they would never again drink wine. He concluded by expressing a hope that Parliament should earnestly be requested to pass the measure suggested, because he was convinced that drunkenness, like larceny or any other offence, could be cured by legislation. The Rev. Mr. Paterson suggested that speakers should address themselves to the motions before the conference. Let these be disposed of, and then others could be considered. There was the motion of Mr. Holdsworth, and the amendment by Mr. Burns. Mr. Burns expressed a wish to withdraw his amendment, which was acceded to. Mr. Ollivier said the Local Option Bill was a very attractive title, but he should like to know more about the principles of the measure. Was he correct in his impression that the main object of the Bill was to give people in particular localities the right to close the public-houses within the localities to which licenses had been granted under the existing law. (Hear, hear, and no, no.) That he hold gathered from the Press, which had criticised the measure pretty fully, was the main principle of the Bill, and if his impressions were erroneous, he should be glad to know it, for he conceived such a course would not be fair towards publicans. One's sense of natural justice would lead him to disapprove of such a mode of dealing with publicans, whose interests had grown up and been recognised by the existing law. So far as local control went he quite approved of it, or anything which would effect an improvement on the present state of things; but he would much prefer to see the resolution remodelled, so that persons might not be left in the dark as to the principles for which they were voting when they supported the Local Option Bill. Mr. War. Hutchison, after remarking on the difficulties which hedged about the temperance question, said he felt a great^respect for all those who made a specialty of it ; and he could not but think that the Hon. Mr. Fox deserved the hearty thanks of the community for the work he had done. But at the same time he conceived that nothing was easier than for gentlemen to take up with such a question and evolve particular theories, which they might desire to see reduced to practice ; and nothing was more easy than for them to prescribe punishment for the publican and punishment for the drunkard. Yet their efforts might be of very little use. There was "a great deal of human nature in man," as Sam Slick had remarked ; and as they had had drink and drunkards from the beginning, they must expect that they would also have drink and drunkards for a good while yet. He did not altogether agree with those who held what were termed " extreme " views. For instance, it was customary to call publicans very hard names, and this he thought scarcely justifiable. No doubt ithere were some very bad publicans, just as there were very bad men in other callings ; but still he thought there were quite as respectable men keeping publichouses in this city of Wellington as there were carrying on stores or any other business. (Hear, hear, and no, no.) There were hotels and hotels, and hotelkeepers and hotelkeepers, and temperance advocates did little good in being unjust and uncharitable towards the class. Then, he thought the drunkards had been rather harshly spoken of. One speaker said he would put all drunkards upon the roads. For himself he (Mr. Hutchison) protested against making any new crimes ; there were enough old ones already. Drunkenness was not a crime ; it was a vice—a degrading vice, and very often led to crime; but still it was not a crime, and if they were to treat it as such they must be consistent, and punish lying and slandering and sensuality of all kinds, in which case the roll of criminals would soon begin to increase. As to the way drunkards were at present treated, he thought it would very often be well if when a policeman saw a drunkard reeling, instead of doing something to him to make him sufficiently noisy to justify an arrest, he were to quietly see him home. After some further remarks on this point, he proposed to glance at the remedies suggested. He said he could not know how it was Mr. Ollivier did not understand the principle of the Local Option Bill. The principle was this, that the people of a locality should alone have the power of licensing houses within their locality. Perhaps it might be said to be an invasion of the principles of liberty, but it was no more so than the refusal to allow a man to create a nuisance in his backyard, to the injury of his neighbor's health. But still he was not not much enamoured of the Local Option Bill as a measure, because he thought it would be inoperative. Like many others, he had his ideas of what the remedy should be, and he had jotted his ideas down. He thought there should be a restriction on the number of licensed houses, and that the number of houses should bear a certain proportion to the population, say one house to the 1000 inhabitants. (Hear, hear). However, his ideas might be stated thus : (1). That, with the undernoted exceptions, public-house licenses shall be determined and fixed by the amount of population in the proportion of one pubic-house license to every 1000 inhabitants in towns and cities. (2). That the license fee shall be £IOO per annum, payable half-yearly. (3). Townships of 1000 inhabitants and under to have only one publichouse. Boadside public-houses to be at least nine miles distant one from another. License fee for these two classes of public-houses to be £SO per annum. (4). That existing licenses shall not be disturbed, but no new licenses shall be granted anywhere until the aforementioned proportion between public-houses and population is reached. (5). That the annual renewal of licenses shall not be necessary, but forfeiture may at any time be incurred by a breach of the law, such as selling adulterated liquors, or supplying men with drink when in a state of intoxication. Now the population of Welllington was about 20,000, and for this population there were 44 public-houses; in other words, a public-house for every 500 persons, including men, women, and

children. If they took the males only, then there was a public-house for every 250 ; and coming a little closer, and confining themselves to males of 18 years and upwards, taking census proportions, the number of public-houses would be about one to every 120. Now did every 120 men in Wellington require a publichouse ? Certaintly not. But although this large proportion of public-houses existed, he could not say that he thought drunkenness in Wellington was on the increase. On the contrary he denied it. On the contrary there were a large number of as sober, as industrious, and as hard-working men as there was to be found in any part of her Majesty's dominions. Nor could he agree that the proportion of public-houses was larger in Wellington than it was in any other city. It was Avell these facts should be stated, because he did not wish Wellington to bear the reputation some were inclined to stamp it with. However, this was no reason why they should do nothing, for he thought it was a matter for regret that so many houses did exist. • There were 14 bakers and four or five butchers in the city to supply solid food, and 44 hotel-keepers to provide the liquid supply. If his idea, not an original one he admitted, were carried out, there would be no more licensing for a time, during which the proportion would gradually decrease, till it might be a question whether more houses were wanted. Then the principle of local control would come into effect —a control which he thought would result in a much more satisfactory manner than did the present system, for he thought it would be impossible to find a less efficient Licensing Bench than the present. They were very respectable gentlemen no doubt, but they had neither principle nor firmness. If they refused a license, three or four lawyers appeared before them, and immediately they repented of the evil of their ways, and forthwith granted the license previously refused. One word more. It must never be forgotten that self-control was a great deal better, and ought to be preferred to legal control, and they must look for and strive to help in a general elevation of the people as being of more potency for good than the rougher agency of the law; and_ while seeking after improvements in legislation, they must not forget to depend upon the education of the people for raising the tone of society and lifting men above mere sensual gratification. Mr. Holdsworth, in answer to Mr. Ollivier, said he had not seen a copy of the Local Option Bill, but he believed the principle was as the Mayor had stated, and in reference to the allusion as to its being unjust to the publicans, he said if necessary the question must be dealt with as our forefathers had dealt with that blot which had defaced our otherwise fair fame —pay for it. (Applause.) But he was afraid it would be a long day before, in Wellington, they would be called upon, even under the Local Option Bill, to pay for the closing of these fine buildings and profitable businesses which had seemed to excite the pity of Mr. Ollivier. But there was another side to the question. Were they to consider the places which operated as temptations for the indulgence in strong drink—the indulgence in that which not only damages the body but damn the soul. It had been said there were respectable publicans, but he asserted that it was a traffic of shame, and he could scarcely remember any publican who had not either in his own person or in that of his children come to a beggarly end ; but yet he denied that any could feel less unkind to the publican than himself (Mr. Holdsworth) ; but he detested the trade. After some further remarks, he proposed the motion standing in his name, —That this conference approves and recommends the principle of the Local Option Bill. The Chairman then put the motion, which was carried with only three dissentients. The Rev. Mr. Paterson then read the draft of a petition to be presented to Parliament as follows :

" That the following be the draft petition foxpresentation to Parliament at the forthcoming session, and that the Chairman of the Conference be requested to sign the same on its behalf.

" 1. That in the opinion of this meeting it is expedient that steps should be taken further to prevent intemperance in New Zealand. " 2. That in order to given effect to the foregoing resolution, it is necessary, in the first place, that the laws relating to the licensing of public-houses be amended in the following particulars :— (a) That for the purposes of such laws, the colony should be divided into districts co-extensive with the judicial districts of the Supreme Court, (b) That for each district there should be a licensing commissioner, charged with the administration of such laws. (c) That the commissioner should have ample powers for taking evidence and punishing offences in connection with such laws.

"3. That in order to give to the inhabitants in the neighborhood of any public-house, whether already existing or afterwards established, a substantial voice in respect to its establishment or maintenance, the following rules should be followed by the licensing commissioners :— (a) Not less than two months before application be made for a new license, the intending applicant should give to the commissioner written notice of his intention to apply ; and such notice should, at his expense, be published twice a week, for four successive weeks, in some newspaper circulating within the neighborhood, (b) Such notice should be accompanied by plans of the proposed house, and the plans should be open to inspection in some convenient place to be fixed by the commissioner. (c) If, within the two months, a notice signed by not less than twenty householders residing within a radius of 200 yards of the site of the proposed new house (if within a town), or by not less than ten householders, residing within a radius of one mile (if outside of a town) objecting to the proposed license, be given to the commissioner, it should be his duty to take a ballot of all the residents within such radius, male and female, of the age of

twenty-one years and upwards ; and if a majority of three-fifths of those actually voting should vote against it, then it should not be granted ; and no application for a new house, within the same area, should be entertained for one year after such ballot. (d) Even where no such opposition is made, the commissioner should satisfy himself of the necessity for such house, of the adequacy of the accommodation proposed to be given therein, and of the character of the applicant. (e) With respect to every licensed houee, whether already existing or afterwards established, a similar ballot should be taken as to its continuance, upon the written application of fifty householders within the town radius, or of twenty within the country radius ; and upon a similar adverse vote, the license should not be renewed ; but no such ballot should be repeated until the lapse of three years, (f) Every licensee should enter iuto a recognisance with two sureties'to the satisfaction of the commissioner, in a sum to be fixed by him in each case, but not for less than £l5O, conditioned for the due observance of his license.

" 4. That conviction of any of the following offences should entail absolute forfeiture of the license, and that no license for the same house should be granted for at least one year, (a) For suffering drunkenness, or other disorderly conduct in the house. (b) For using or permitting to be used therein any means or expedients for adulterating liquors. (c) For knowingly permitting to be sold or consumed therein any liquors prohibited to be sold, manufactured, or imported by the laws relating to adulteration.

"5. That for the purpose of aiding the commissioners in the performance of thenduties they should have power to command the services of all police officers. " 6. That, in the next place, it is necessary that stringent provisions should be made by law for preventing the sale, manufacture, or importation of adulterated and unwholesome liquors. "7. That the duty of administering the laws against adulteration should also be entrusted to the licensing commissioners, in which they should be aided by the Customs authorities. "8. That all expenses connected with the administration of the laws relating to licenses and adulteration, should be primarily chargeable on the revenues arising therefrom, including license fees, fines, and forfeitures. " 9. That a petition, embodying the above resolutions, be presented to the General Assembly, and that Mr. be requested to take charge of the same." The Bev. Mr. West supported the petition. His Worship the Mayor dissented from that portion of the petition recommending the appointment of highly-paid licensing commissioners.

The Rev. Mr. Harvey moved, as an amendment, that a committee should be appointed to draw up a petition to Parliament in accordance with the resolution previously passed, on the motion of Mr. Holdsworth, recommending the general principles of the Local Option Bill. Mr. Smith seconded. After discussion the amendment was put, and declared carried by 24 to 18. Mr. Hooi'Eß moved the adjournment of the conference for one week. This was seconded by Mr. Twomey. The Rev. Mr. Paterson opposed au adjournment, as he considered the whole thing had ended, in smoke.

The motion having been put, the adjournment was carried nem, con.