Daily Circulation, 1540. The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1892.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XVII, Issue 5306, 21 June 1892, Page 2

Daily Circulation, 1540. The Oamaru Mail. TUESDAY, JUNE 21, 1892.

The decision of the Sydenham Licensing Committee to close all the hotels in their district has led to columns of correspondence daily on the subject in the Christchurch papers. There are, however, no new arguments either for or against the action of the Committee. The letters only make it more apparent than ever that those interested in the traffic consider that it should be permitted to flourish so long as it continues to serve their turn, and that the Prohibitionists consider that they were entrusted with the work of ruthless extermination. Notwithstanding Judge Denniston's dictum that the powers of a Committee are limited, the Sydenham Committee are determined to act as though they possessed the absolute power which the Act appears to confer. The Committee have the best of it. The Judge decreed that they could not close the whole of the hotels, but must open a number sufficient to meet the requirements of the public. The Committee evidently do not know what number would accomplish suoh a purpose; and, besides, the public, about whom there is so much solicitude, appointed them to abolish the whole trade in their district. If a Judge of the Supreme Court have a better gauge of the public's requirements than have the public themselves, and if he, in the exercise of such a knowledge, choose to order that a certain number of the hotels of Sydenham be re-opened, then the Committee must, we suppose, be subservient, unless they elect to appeal. In the meantime, the experiment of local prohibition will be put to the test. Amongst the letters published on the Sydenham licensing question is one in which the writer says :—"The wife of a railway employee states that since the closing of the hotels her husband who had previously spent a large portion of his wages there, has not touched alcoholic liquor, and legitimate tradesmen are reaping the benefit as one comfort after another is added to the home. A grocer states that since the hotels were shut up one family has increased its weekly purchases threefold, and, in addition, has paid oft' L 9 of an old-st.-mding Ll2 account that he regarded as hopeless." This testimony, consisting merely of typical cases that came to the writer's own knowledge within a few days, goes in the direction of prcving that a decrease of facilities or temptations to drink brings about the abandonment of the habit, to some extent at least; and that "the public convenience " is after all, nothing more than a custom that people are willing to shake off to their own advantage and that of the whole community. But, the Lyttelton Times, like the great majority of newspapers in the colony and elsewhere, expresses its disapproval of the abolition of licenses without compensation. There is no need to go into this question minutely. The principle of compensation has already been decided against the publicans by tribunals whose iiatadmits of no dispute. Even the Lyttelton Times, whilst advocating compensation, admits that "the public is with the Temperance Party in considering that there are, in several districts, too many licensed houses, aud that a number could be closed wit hout any inconvenience." What our extemporary means is that houses which are not required should be closed without paying compensation. But, if it be just to close one or Wo houses in a district without paying compensation, it is equally just to close any number of houses without paying compensation.

"We deplore th e retir em e 11 fc from fch e Upper House of Mr Randall Johnson as much as anybody can. A useful member lie was—shrewd, practical, and honorable." This is how the Wellington Times mourns the political retirement of an enemy of those progressive expedients which it daily urges upon its readers. This is not a little curious. If Mr Randall Johnson has been a useful member, then the Times must be a worse than useless paper, for it is opposed to Mr Johnson on all cardinal points of policy, and is, therefore, endeavoring to arrest the progress and happiness of New Zealand. But we are persuaded that the Times does not mean that this interpretation should be placed on its conduct. Its fault is not an error of judgment, but a lack of sincerity. But why should newspapers—the Wellington Times above all others—reprobate the act and praise the performer 1 Is it because Mr Randall Johnson is a man of wealth and influence 1 We will not assert that this is an explanation of the Times' inconsistency. Liberal papers are not given to the worship of wealth. They profess to be wedded to righteous principles. But, whatever, may have been the reason which prompted the Times' fulsome commsnts on Mr Johnson's retirement, there can be no question that such journalistic vagaries savor strongly of sycophancy, and are calculated to sadly mar its power for good. The Times would do well to recognise that the authors of what it conceives to be evils are as unworthy of its countenance as the evils themselves.

The rainfall at Maheno during May was l'Oo inches. Rain fell on six days, the maximum fall being 0.50 011 the 7tli. The lowest falls during the month were at Maheno as above, Kaikoura (1*06), Ivinkazan, Wanganui (1'33), and Kapunatiki, Rangitata (1 -56). The greatest records were Puysegur Point (22'86), Inglewood (10*76), Summit, Rimutaka (9.94), and Mataliiia, Gisborne (9.44). The usual weekly meeting of the Wesley Church Club was "held last night, in the lecture hall at the rear of the church, when there was a good attendance of members. The meeting was opened with devotional exercises, and, after some routine business had been transacted, it was decided to hold next week's meeting on Tuesday, 2Stli inst., 011 account of the women's franchise meeting being held on Monday. Candidates' names for a mock election (to be held at a future date) were then registered ; and Mr Emslie was voted to the post of stoker, in place of the former officer, who retired. A portfolio consisting of " The organs of man imitated by mechanical contrivances,"' "An enigma company," "The fly," "Science," "The beauties of our island home,'' aud "Self riches," afforded much pleasure to the members, who discussed the various subjects dealt with. A new member was added to ■the roll of the Club. The meeting closed in the usual manner. The demand for land is increasing, rather than diminishing, and those southerners who cannot acquire land at reasonable prices in their own part of the colony are seeking it in the north. The Auckland Star and Herald have given two littig lists of the applicants, and state that in a single day the names of 30 intending settlers were added to the list of subscribers, including the names of four persons in this district. The total number of names received up to about a week ago represented about 180 settlers. These settlements are a godsend to the seekers for land, and the public ought not

to forget that for them the colony is indeed to the Minister for Lands, who proceeds-!, so far as is possible under the existing l ftw ~ to develop his policy of settlement nndis! turbed by the taunts of the enemies 0 f settlement. The newly-established North Olngo (; vm . nasium Club opened its season last night when tin-re was a good attendance. The Club have rented a hall from Messrs Sliriniski and Moss, at the rear of the City p >olll Palace, and will meet for practice on M Oll . days, Wednesdays, and Fridays. M r p Waddell has been appointed captain of the Club, and under his leadership last night the members went through a nnmliei- of useful gymnastic exercises. The Napier Telegraph says of the hito Ministry :—" When Sir Harry Atkinson was Premier he let his colleagues understand that it was not Ministerially respectable to be seen knocking about a pu\>lj c . house." That such a caution was necessary does not speak well for the Telegraph's friends. A private telegram received in town today states that at the Supreme Court sittings in Timaru this morning the Grand ,lury threw out the Bill against Joseph Green, field, who was committed for trial f rom Oamarii on a charge of rape. Entries for the Oamaru Poultry Showclosed with the Secretary last night. \y e understand that numerically they are in exeess of last year's, and though there is a slight falling off in the numbers for Christchurch, those from South Canterbury, I>„|. merston, and Lawrence are exceptionally numerous. The entries from Duncdin ate due to-morrow. The entries in the 1 >reail class, etc. show specially gratifying results, and there is every prospect of the show being eminently successful. Mr J\ Duncan, M.H.R. will leave, for Wellington to-morrow to attend the session, which opens 011 Thursday. The Oamaru portion of the San Francisco Mail will arrive by the express this evening, There will be the customary counter delivery between 7 and S p.m. The Mataura Ensign pompously announces that " it is a common, but mistaken, notion that editors and such-like people have grout difficulty in ' filling up the paper.''' As, in the same issue of the Ensign, we notice two paragraphs culled without acknowledge, ment from the Mail, and also a number similarly appropriated from some of our eontemporaries, we can well believe that the Ensign finds it neither difficult nor expensive to fill its columns. It. has an unenviable notoriety for its journalistic dishonesty.

The Marlborough Express publishes the following anecdote with ill-suppressed elation :—" One evening a cold water orator was at a supper. Opposite to him sat a well-known divine. 'Do you not think it wrong for men in your position to act ao bad an example by drinking alcohol V 'No,' replied the divine, ' I only follow Scripture.' •How so?' questioned the orator. 'Why the Bible says,' replied the divine, ' wine that niaketh glad the heart of man, hut with water do the wild asses quench their thirst.'" We don't believe this story, for the simple reason that no eminent divine would be so magnanimous as to proclaim ut a public dinner table, as a tame ass, his inferiority to the wild ones. The Running Locomotive Foreman in i Christchureh, Mr G. T. Smith, who eimic from Auckland six months ago, is (says the Lyttelton Times) being removed to Dmicdin to take charge of the Running Locomotive Department there. During the time he lias been in Christchureh he has become very popular with his men, wh:> greatly regret his removal.