The Evening Mail. MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 776, 7 October 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. MONDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1878.

Ik colonial beer were not so innocent a stimulant we would have laid to its charge the responsibility of having been the cause of the first skirmish of any note that has occurred in Parliament this session. We are in a position to state that it was not colonial beer that got into the heads of hon. members ; it was only the influence of those who make it and those who retail it. We state this upon the authority of Mr. Saunders, who said during the debate on the "Beer Duty Bill" that "the Government should put in all their measures ' By permission of the licensed victuallers,' " thereby strongly implying that the Government had been successfully checkmated by that body. Perhaps, as is the case with beer, Mr. Saundekh' opinion in this matter should be taken cum grano sails. Political apathy has surely not reached such a height in the Colony as to admit of Government by the Licensed Victuallers, or any other similar class. Dissolution—political and physical—anything— would be welcome to honorable men in preference to selling themselves, bodies and souls, and the Colony, to any class because their retention of office depended upon it. Mr. Saunders was neither flattering to those who were beaten nor to those who beat when he implied that the Licensed Victuallers had something to do with the result. It was not pleasant for those who voted against the tax to be virtually told that they were—whilst professing to represent the people—only tools in the hands of the Licensed Victuallers. Whilst we freely admit, our conviction that the Licensed Victuallers' influence is becoming in some communities mere powerful than is good for us, we are just as strongly convinced that if the Licensed Victuallers do no more harm than successfully oppose the imposition of a duty on Colonial beer, there will be no cause for alarm. The Government were wrong in staking their existence upon such unimportant measures as the "Beer Duty Bill' and its companion, " The Stock Companies Bill." The failure of the Government to obtain for the Beer Duty Bill a second reading was due, not to the weakness of the Government, but to the unpopularity of a measure which, while—even with the help of " The Stock Companies Bill"—it would only produce a few paltry thousands, would impose a tax upon a Colonial industry, and tend to —in the language of the old song—" rob a poor man of his beer."' The same reason may be urged for the unpopularity .of " The Stock Companies Bill," in which it v/a» sought to throw a wet blanket over the development of the resources of the colony by imposing a tax upon united effort, whilst private firms would have been allowed to go scot-free. It was the height ct absurdity for Ministers to boldly assert in Parliaraent that they would " stand or fall" by such mea aures ; but. apparently intoxicated by success, they did this, and are. now reaping the fruits of such injudiciousness, tyzch an act emboldened the sickly Opposition, arid gave it fresh life and hope. Whilst the Goyenalßent pinned their faith to those great measures which will so materially affect the prosperity of the Colony, the few discontents who are viewed as composing the Opposition felt that they had no chance, and were quiescent; but immediately Mr. Ballance threw down the glove by "asserting that he would either " stand or fall" by two very unimportant measures upon which it was quite probable that there would not only be difference of opinion amongst Government supporters, but amongst the Government itself, they saw a ray of hope, the brightness of which was at its height on Friday last. Although we feel that the hastily expressed threat of Mr. Bai.laxce will, under the circumstances, be more honored in the b.-each than in the observance, the position was an awkward one for Ministers to occupy. We venture to say that Mr, Ballance will not again stake the political existence of himself and friends upon such a paltry issue. He has clearly demonstrated that men may bring talent into the world with them, but they cannot bring experience. I;> our opinion the Government is none the worse for their defeat on these two Bills, for they will be supported as strongly as ever in their cardinal policy ; but &■ really was humiliating for the Colonial Treasurer to have to eat his own words, and to sit quietly and listen to Sir Gegpgk Grey's clever apology, whilst the Atkjnso.v-Fox-M'Leax-Bowex clique were exultant, and indulged in unmerciful chaff. The Opposition £e}t that it was but a small occasion for jubilation, but, as it was the best tijat was likely to arise, tfcey were determined to make the most of it. No one seriously believes that the Government should cither resign or seek dissolution. A Government should only resort to audi extremities when it discovers that it can no longer from weakness carry ou the government of the country. It would, of course, have been better haa Ministers taken the advice of their supporters and withdrawn the two Bills at the outset, rather than haye suffered the humiliation of being almost compelled to do so ; but if the Government have nothing more to be ashamed of than its defeat on the Beer Duty and Stock Companies Bills it will still be far '■ beyond the reproach of those honorable members who so signally failed as political leaders, but who now, for want of something better to do, seek to humbug the Government by their inuendoes of incompetency. It would be a serious calamity to the country if the Ministry resigned, because it would be a fatal blow to the admirable measures which have so nearly become law. It would be far better if they dissolved, because an appeal to the country would reinstate men who have proved true to the country's interests. The Electoral, The Customs Tariff, The Native Lands, and The Land Tax Bills, are, not, perhaps, everything that could be desired, but they are a step in the right direction, and will, at least, form the substrata upon which to build laws such as . the Colony for years has yearned for.

The Cora-Vose combination gave their last entertainment in Oamaru at the Volunteer Hall on Saturday evening, when there was a very fair attendance. They proceeded to Tiniaru to-day. „ -..is for the purpose of establishing a i Congregational Church in thisHowrifsvcalled fdr~Wednesday evening, at 7 o'clock, in "the old" Tees-street Hall. All who sympathise with the movement are requested .to attend. Ths- United Service for Children, held in St. Paul's-Church yesterday afternoon, was -very well attended. The Rev. Mr. Dewsbury presided, and short and pointed addresses, couched in simple language, were delivered by the Rev. Mr. Walker, Mr. D. Wright, and the Rev. Mr. Ward. The Rev. Mr. Todd and Mr. C. G. Moore were also on the platform. The service wa3 one of the best of the kind ever held in Oamaru. The first of a series of evangelistic services, under the auspices of the Oamaru Young Men'a Association, was held in the Volunteer Hall last evening. The hall was well filled. Mr. C. G. Moore having stated the object of the meeting, requested those who purposed attending future meetings to provide themselves with hymn books, in order that the singing might not be confined to the choir. The Rev. Mr. Dewsbury then read a portion of Scripture and engaged in prayer.. Mr. Duncan Wright, General Secretary of the Dunedin Young Men's Christian Association, delivered an earnest address from the account of the healing of Blind Bartemeus. The meeting was closed with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Walker. The choir of the Association, a cajrital one, led the singing. It was intimated that at this evening's service the Rev. James Kirkland, of West Taieri, would take part in the proceedings.

It has been discovered that it is much I more conducive to good portraiture to allow the subject's eyes to wander round the figures on the dial of a clock than to keep them staring, in the usual fashion, at one spot. The Sultan of Turkey never wears the same clothes; twice. The New York Herald reproduces the arguments of a Doctor Wild to the effect that St. Patrick was a Jew, and that his real name was Jeremiah. The Doctor says that the Irish are the ten lost tribes. Mr. Rees and Doctor Wild are somewhat of the same opinion on the subject. At the Resident Magistrate's Court today (before T. W. Parker, Esq,, R,M,), Alexander M'Donald, who had been admitted to bail, did not appear to answer the charge of having been drunk and disorderly on Saturday, and his bail was ordered to be estreated. James Kelly, charged with having been.,-drunk and disorderly at an early hour yesterday morning, was with a caution in consideration of his iu»: having been:-before the Court for some time. —Patrick M'Caskei-j for having been drunk and' disorderly in Thames-street last night, was also cautioned and -discharged. The usual monthly meeting of the Waitaki Road Board will be held in the Board-room, Tyne-street, to-morrow, at 11 a.m. During the examination of Mr, Bradbury, a bankrupt, at the District Court, he stated in reply to Mr. O'Meagher that his affidavits had been prepared by Mr. R. M. Payne, and he had paid him L 3 for doing so and filing them in the Court. His Honor remarked that Mr. Payne was liable to a penalty of

Lf>o for doing" this work, and he hoped that it would be enforced. Mr. o"Meagher said the Law Society which at present existed in the Otago district had shown a .great deal of supincness in these matters!. Such cases as these were of frequent occurrence, and he hoped that if the new Act was passed it would be the means of preventing this sort of thing. At the District Court this morning two jurors, .lames Familtcn and Thomas Fairley, who did not answer to their names, were each fined L2 unless cause was shown, The Rev. J. Kirkland and Mr. D. Wright will, under the auspices of the O. Y. M. C. Association, deliver addresses at the Volunteer Hall this evening, at S o'clock. Those who have already heard the Association's choir fiiifg their beautiful simple sacred melodies will be glad to learn that they will sing for half-an-hour thjs evening. In the language of the advertisement. "All are cordially invited ; especially young men," Our readers will be sorry to learn that Parliamentary work has seriously affected Mr. Shrimski's health. In a private letter to a friend he says :—"I am thankful that my two Bills have at last passed. . . The work in connection with them has completely broken down my health, and it will be a "long time before I shall be myself again. . . The Waterworks Bill has been so altered that before any borrowing can take place the consent oi the ratepayers must be obtained." Entries for the handicap billiard match to take place at the Royal Hotel will close at 8 oVl'ick this evening, immediately after wfiii'. play will commence.