South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1884.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3354, 3 January 1884, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 1884.

In another column we publish an Interesting letter from Mr Stout on the great question which he has so much at heart. Those who heard his recent lecture here, on our duty in regard to the liquor traffic, will see in this letter an acceptable addendum to that discourse. Mr Stout very fully and clearly defines what he means by State interference, and the limits he would set to it. We grant that the arguments brought forward by him, in favor of State action in the suppression of the liquor traffic are cogent. But, much as we believe in Mr Stout, and in spite of all the boasted success of the Maine liquor law—which we believe, by the way, has been much exaggerated —we cannot advocate repression by enactment. There is no society, no organisation for the promotion of temperance and the education of the people in that virtue, to which we are not proud to lend assistance and to support—but wo can never advocate State interference of an arbitrary kind. Mr Stout’s reasoning is good, especially about the “ social organism.” Bat no amoant of good reasoning can reconcile us to State interference. We go further and add —while the cause of temperance has able advocates and united parties, no repressive legislation will be needed. The cause is advancing daily, by surer and more effectual means than repressive legislation. In this matter people must be educated, not coerced.

It will afford the greatest satisfaction throughout the colony to learn that the new lighthouse at Waipapa Point is now in working order. There is perhaps no public work of greater importance than the erection of lighthouses along the coast; and the completion of that at Waipapa Point is peculiarly a matter for rejoicing. For at that spot more than one vessel has come to destruction, and many have narrowly escaped. The Tararua tragedy will not fade from our remembrance, at anyrate, during the present generation. We cannot too fully realise our insular position, and the fact that New Zealand must be in the future the maritime power of the Southern Hemisphere. In this rockbound land we must nurse a race of hardy seamen, and our remoteness from other lands must cause our sea trade to swell to immense proportions as years roll on. It is therefore of the first importance the ocean pathway should be made as safe as human ingenuity can make it. We cannot therefore help rejoicing at the completion of a work like this at Waipapa Point.

It has often been remarked that tragedies, such as murders and suicides, are of most frequent occurrence during “ festive seasons,” and the records of the past two or three days seem to bear out the statement, The thing is perfectly unaccountable, but it is a fact and must be accepted. “ There is no rose without a thorn,” and no sunshine without a cloud. The number of

tragical events that have occurred within the past few days shows that in the midst of general rejoicings there are some who are overshadowed with gloom and despair, and proves the truth of the old saying that “ one half the world does not know how the other half lives.” It is noticeable that half the mournful events of this sort are the direct result of illicit intercourse of the sexes, and they may well be pointed to as beacons for. the guidance of the community. No unlawful intercourse is enjoyed without retribution following swiftly on its heels, and intrigue inevitably brings misery in its train, misery which, though the world only sees occasionally, is not the less real and terrible.