LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 118, 6 September 1876, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

One of thu most dastardly actions we have ever had to chronicle came under our notice this forenoon. As the Editor of this paper was quietly wending his way northward to record his vote for one of the candidates for the office of auditor, his hat blew off near the Thames-street bridge and fell near the bank of the creek. A well-known grain purchaser, a coal merchant, and an Old Sport happened to be passing at the time, and observing the bell-topper in the water, could not help Hinging huge stones and lumps of mud at it. The Old Sport was contented with nothing less than a pebble the size of a tombstone. Now this may have been highly amusing to the parties who threw the stones, but we fail to see where the laugh comes

One of the Thames representatives (Mr. W. Howe), in the discussion on Mr. Stout's Local Option Licensing Bill, as reported in ttamnrd, said :—-*' He should certainly vote for the Bill, and would have much pleasure in doing so : and he was quite sure that the greatest good, and a good that very few members in the House could at present see, would result from the abolition of every public-house and every hotel in the Colony. lie had lived in a community for many years in which there was no hotel, and where there was no place for obtaining spirituous liquors : and during the whole of that time—seven years—not a single case of crime or offence ot any kind was taken before the Magistrate." Coming, as those sentiments do, from the owner of several hotels at the Thames, and one who was—prior to his election a* Thames representative—elected by the Thames Licensed Victuallers' Association as an honorary member of their body, the address is, to say the least, peculiar, and affords a good text for Good Templar orators. Wc shall next expect to hear Mr. Kowc holding forth on the morality of barmaids. Mr. Howe, on being questioned by Mr. 11. Wood regarding this remarkably virtuous community amongst whom he had resided, said that it was the Island of Kawau, the residence of Sir fieorge Grey.

Of all the strange methods taken by those who voluntarily depart this life, perhaps the following was about the coolest and coldest: —The LyttrHoH Tim** tells how an elderly man named Lecornpt was found near Barry's Bay jetty, attempting suicide in a peculiar manner :—He had gone down to low water mark, and secured his lees and anus with a cord and bandaged his eyes, and was thus waiting the flow of the tide to put an end to lit* exigence. A letter had been found at hh stating his determination to make away with himself/' The Tm-annki 11-raid gives the following account of the first criminal Hogging administered in the Gaol at New Plymouth, that of Benny, lately convicted of brutal and indecent assault on an old lady :—" The prisoner Benny, previous to his flogging on Saturday last, was examined by Dr. Bawson, who, finding him a strong, able-bodied man, considered there was nothing to warrant him staying the sentence of the Court. Accordingly the man was stripped, and, pleading in most piteous terms for mercy, was fastened to the flogging rack, trr receive his punishment. There were two men engaged for the work, one to relieve the other, and shortly after seven o'clock a yell from the prisoner was the first intimation to outsiders that the punishment had commenced. At the twentieth lash the thong 3 of one of the ' cats' parted from the stock, and another had to be

used to finish the punishment. The two men divided the floggingbetween them, each giving ! the prisoner twenty-five lashes, and although they were novices at the work, they carried the sentence ont thoroughly—perhaps not in such a brutal manner as represented by some of the Melbourne papers, yet in such a way that the prisoner will have cause to remember the punishment till the day of his death. His back was black with wales, and there was some blood drawn, which, at the conclusion of the punishment, was dusted over with 'arrowroot.' The prisoner is now in the hospital, and will have leisure to reflect on the result of his cruel and brutal treatment of an old and almost helpless lady. We hear that the punishment of whipping is to be adopted here instead of imprisonment for boys who misbehave themselves and are brought before the Court. It will also be the punishment given for any youngsters found guilty of larrikinism, who will be sent to receive their dozen lashes before breakfast."

Tt is intimated that a concert will be given this evening, in the Tees-street Hall, by the members of the Star of Hope Lodge, 1.0. G.T., assisted by several friends, the proceeds to be devoted to the Harrison Relief Fund. We are informed that the programme will include the names of several performers new to Oaniara, and as the object is a worthy one, tliere should be a good attendance. The Uev. Mr. Agnew announces that he will deliver an oration at the Masonic Hall, on Thursday evening. The subject will be •' Self Elevation; or, Rank from the Ranks." " Britisher" is requested to take the chair.