The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1874.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 2196, 25 April 1874, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1874.

We awaited with much interest the sitting of the Licensing Conrt constituted nnder the Licensing Act of last session, not only on account of the importance of the subject dealt jsvith and the novelty of the procedure, but because the central legislatnre has practically taken the legislation for the issue of licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors out of the hands of the Provincial Governments, and attempted to do well what has impliedly been done indifferently by the local authorities. We wished to witness the working of an | Act in practioe which contained the concentrated wisdom of both Houses, feeling assured that if perfection was to be hoped for on this earth, the offspring of that Good Templar Mr. Fox, aided and assisted by the wisdom of parliament, would be as likely to come up to that standard as any effort of which poor humanity was capable. We also recollected that Mr. Fox had for his guidance in the compilation of his bill the varied experience of nine independent legislatures, which had been labouring some twenty years, each producing for the good of thirsty humanity, with infinite patience and seal, an amendment Acton an averageevery two years. In these Acts have been embodied the many crotchets of busy brains, and the cunningly devised deterrents invented by friends of humanity for doing away with, or rather exorcising, by means of strongly worded clauses this unsalable desire for strong drink which the Anglo Saxon undoubtedly possesses. The result is, that our reverence for, and deep conviction of, the wisdom of the general legislatnre has received a terrible shock. The Act is very imperfect. In stating this we do not refer to the principle of the Act, that is, the prohibitory veto of two-thirds of the inhabitants, or the mode of constituting the Court, but to the Act not providing the necessary machinery to carry out its own provisions. We do not blame Mr. Fox for this — to him and his followers it was an undoubted triumph to pass an Act for tbe whole Colony which constituted new conrts and contained the prohibitory veto. To run the gauntlet of both Houses and emerge with tbe kernel of the bill intact no doubt justified him in sacrificing both shell and bnsk. If Mr. Fox is jnstified in the action be took, what shall be said of the capacity of the central legislature as a perfect law-making machine which permitted I BQoh an imperfect Act to pass ? Judged by this Act, it is the most inefficient mode that could be devised by which useful public measures can be produced. There is wanting a third process — a revision by experts to have power to reconcile a bill to itself before receiving the Governor's assent. This Act had the misfortune to commence with a blunder by rendering illegal the issue of licenses under provincial ordinances before its courts could issue licenses under its own provisions. The licenses under our provincial ordinance terminated on 31st December, 1873, and as the court created by the new Act could not sit till April, it is evident that the sale of , liquor in tho meantime has been carried i on illegally, that is without tbe authority | of law, and will continue so until the 30th June, when the new licenses commence to operate. Licensees will thus obtain eighteen months trade by payment of a twelve months 1 license fee, and the provincial revenue will suffer accordingly. It has been usual for the Provincial Treasurer to issue bottle licenses, and the Act contemplates the issue of certificates by tbe court for this kind of license, but it fails to provide a form of certificate. We suppose it was for this reason that the Court declined to grant certificates. This is unfortunate, as the Provincial Treasurer would have been justified in issuing a license on the authority of a certificate under the Act, but if be does so without a certificate, his license j will not afford any protection to the licensee, as clause six imposes a fine of £50 on any person selling alcoholic liquor nnless he shall be duly licensed under the Act. When a difficulty occurred with respect to the issue of -a publican's certificate to a person who had not complied with the requirements of the Act by giving notice of application, tho Court was equal to the occasion, and issned the certificate on its own authority. We think it could with equal propriety have issued certificates for bottle licenses, and thus have carried out the plain intentions of the Act. If the Court could swallowa camel in the former case, we fail to see an adequate reason for their straining at a gnat in the latter. As

no provision has been made for the issue of brewers' licenses .nnder the Act, and the Provincial Treasurer is precluded from iasning them under the provincial ordinance, the only way in which the difficulty can be met is by the brewers applying for a wholesale license, as it is evident that without this protection they will be liable to the heavy penalty of £50 on conviction. We have briefly referred to a few defects of the Act, which perhaps are inseparable from I the General Assembly dealing for the first time with what has hitherto been considered a subject for local legislation. We have not expressed an opinion on the value of the measure as an agent in suppressing the evils of drunkenness. Habitual drunkenness is an undoubted evil, and wise legislation may tend to diminish its extent, but ohanges in the drinking habits of any people are as a rule of slow growth, and are brought abont more readily by a gradual enlightenment of the masses as to their pernicious and evil tendencies both physically and morally than by that exercise of paternal rule which seeks to prohibit their indulgence by coercive ' measures. It is assuredly a greater moral triumph and a more crucial test of the quality of true manliness to be subjected to and pass the ordeal of temptation than to possess the negative moral qualities which have never been subjected to the temptations which the world as at present constituted abundantly affords. « Newspapers require great taot in their management, and a great deal of discrimination is therefore neoessary as to what should be inserted and what rejeoted. In the Colonies— especially in small towns — news, papers are looked upon by tbe public as their property, and persons having private grievances often oonsider themselves hardly dealt with beoaose the editor refuses to insert some reckless slander against another individual. The experience of journalism also affords very grotesque illustrations of tho value set by small people upon small ideas. "It would be almost impossible," says an English journal, "to calculate the number of readers who are readers of only one subjeot, and who imagine the presß is supported for no otber reason than to 1 ventilate' the particular matters in whioh they are interested. The different seotions of the patrons oi a newspaper thus supply a oritioism more minute and searching than can be devised by any Bystem of supervision. Jones, interested iv yachting, knows at once if a single race is missed in the reoord of a regatta, and he looks eagerly for the articles from time to time devoted to the subject. Tbe intervals when there is no yachting news are to be patiently endured, but in such periods for Jones, at least, tbe newspaper is without interest. But if any point ia missed, Jones will have his own opinion as to tbe fate of the newspaper, lie will indulge in evil forebodings, and will let out as bis judgment that such and such a newspaper is no longer what it was. But, as for Smith, he will deride Jones's fears so long as the fashionable intelligence ib duly reported. He bolieros the newspapers exist for the purpose of informing him of the movements of those above him ; and if any one should arrivo at Claridge's and the fact not bo speedily notinod to him, Smith will bo at the office of the partioular newspaper with immediate complaint, half expecting as he drives down to find the shutters np, and the whole staff weeping over tbe fatal omission. Some persons, again, oare for nothing but city news ; others devote them, selves to the sporting colomn j and a large class to the legal intelligence ; and each class will be forever urging the increased development of its own special subject. Thus the first is inolined to believe that the newspaper must sooner or later sacrifice its popularity unless it turn* itself into a etook and share list; the second is quite conSdeut it ought to bo more like a racing calender ; and the third would turn it into a mere law report." Thb Ad Valorem Tabu f.— Ouroontemporary informs its readers that, in oonsequenoe of the ohanges made in the tariff last session by the substitution of an ad valorem for a measurement duty, twenty shillings has no longer the same purchasing power as it formerly had. Does our contemporary mean to say that an ad valorem duty on oilmen's stores, drapery, and ironware has had the effect of increasing tbe price of land, of labour, of wool, of mutton, or of grain, for it is well-known that twenty shillings will no longer purchase the same amount of these commodities as it formerly did ? If saoh is the case the change must be a benefioial one for the owuers and producers of those artioles, nnd they owe a debt of gratitude to the Treasurer for the happy thought that suggested soon a magical change. It is more likely that our contemporary's mind has been muoh exercised of late owing to the rise in slop goods. Even in such a caße, we oan feel grateful to the Treasurer who has, by his legislative aotion, provoked the following determination :—": — " On a future oooasion we propose to return to tbe subjeot, and to show what source of revenue oan be substituted for the customs duties, at a less cost to the country, and in a way that will better promote tbe advancement and prosperity of the Colony." We await with great interest the coming delivery of this posthumouß budget by an ex-Treasurer of some hours standing, whioh, owing to an unfortunate combination of adverse oiroumstanoes, never saw the light. The period of gestation bas been so prolonged, we fear tbe would-be parent has deoeived himself, and that there is nothing in it but some abnormal disarrangement of tbe animal fnnctions. If it does come to any thing we shall duly chronicle the event ; but we venture to predict that should it see the light of day it will be an object of greater interest to its delighted author than to tbe general public. The Continuation of tub Railway from Waitaba and New Plymouth to some other centre of population, is urged npon the Government by more than one paper in the Northern Islaud. The Anokland journals strenuously advocate that we should be oonneotod with that city by rail ; aud now we find the Wellington papers doing the sumo thing. Tbe Evening Post says that as we possess more political influence in proportion to our numbers than any other oommunity in the Colony, we should use it to urge on i tbo Government tho necessity for pushing on the railway between Now Plymouth and Wanganui — the Wellington Province doing their part to connect tho Empire City with that town. We are glad to find ourselves iv the happy position of having the assistance of these two Provinces in onr endeavour to carry out what is tbe wish of every settlor in this Province. Communication of

this kind with larger cities will not only have the effect of increasing the value of all property here, bnt the laud in the interior will become settled by industrions occupants, whioh will inorease the wealth and prosperity the oonntry — the real strength and stamina of whioh is only to be looked for amongst the oultivators of the land. It is to be hoped then that our members in the Assembly will sack the cooperation of the members of both Wellington and Auokland, and, by their united influences, cause the Government also to see the advisability of connecting this Province, in the manner advocated, with all the speed possible. The Census of this Province being now complete, we are enabled, through the courtesy of the Enumerator, Mr. C. D. Whitoombe, to publish the result, so far as relates to the population and number of dwellings. The table, whioh we publish in another column, shows that during the past three years we ' have increased in numbers a little over a thousand persons, or something like twenty, five per cent. Of this number there has been an increase of 479 males and 524 females. There haß been a deoreaae to the number of half-castes by five, and we find that there are six men married to Maori wives in the Pro* vinoe. The return shows an inorease only of thirty buildings during the past three- years. There is evidently, however, some error either ia the present return or in the one of 1871 with regard to the number of houses in New Plymouth. The total number of inhabited and uninhabited houses in 1871, is stated to be 598 j whereas the present return sets them down at 491. How a decrease of over a hundred houses has taken place we are at a losb to imagine. In the Grey and Bell District there has been an inorease of forty houses ; and in the Egmont District ninetyfour. Although the increase in the population is not so large as we could have wished, yet it is satisfactory to know that we are steadily progressing.

The Youno Men's Christian Mutual Ikpbovement Society trill meet on Monday evening next. The Gourlay Family.— We see by an advertisement that the Gonrlay family, who paid this Province a risit some three years since, will be here next week, and give s aeries of entertainments. The Mildness of thb Season.— Although the mornings and evenings are now beginning to get chilly, yet the season, for this time of the year, has been very mild of late. As an instance of the fineness of the weather, we may mention that ire have Been apple trees in blossom, and ripe raspberries hanging on the bushes. Strawberries have also blossomed and fruited daring tho last few weeks. Wintkb Evenings' Entebtainhbnt. — We are glad to hear that theaa popular entertain • ments are about to bo renewed. The first one will take place on Monday, the 4th May next, and will be continued on every fourth succeeding Monday, until the 26th Ootober. The entertainment will, as heretofore, consist of readings and music. The hon. sec, Mr. Whitcombe, has undertaken the management of them ; and, from his indefatigable exertions daring former seasons, there is little donbt bnt that they will prove snocessfnl, and will add considerably to the revenue of the Institute. Mb. Eossiteh's New Building. — A building is now in coarse of erection nearly opposite the drapery establishment of Mrs. Boss, in Devon-street j which is being built for Mr. BoSßiter for a butoher's shop. It will be of two stories, and will oooupy a frontage to the road of twenty feet, by a depth of twenty-six feet. The shop will have two windows, the sashes of which will be so weighted that they can be run up during the day, and closed at night. Orer these windows lofier boards will be fixed for the ventilation of the shop. The interior of the building ou the gronnd floor consists of a shop nineteen feet by eighteen, and ten and a-half feet high. Behind this will be a small room for a count-ing-house, seven feet three by seven feet. Ou the west side of the shop is a door, which has I over it a fan light hung on oentres ; there is also communication from the shop to the counting-house. On the east side is a passage running between the building and Mr. Cndd's dwelling-house ; and, at the end of thiß passage, is a door, by wbioh communication with the upper portion of the building is obtained. A staircase at the ond of the passage leads to a landing on the npper floor. Here will be a large room, the same size as the shop, and a small one, about seven feet by seven. The larger room will be lighted by two windows in the front of the building. The edifioe will be of red pine timber, which bos been procured from Broadmore's mill, the agent for which is Mr. C. Rennell. The arohitect is Mr. G. Robinson, and the builder Mr. William Sole, who appears to bo erecting the shop in a thoroughly workmanlike manner. Church of England Services To-morrow. — Services will he held to-morrow, at St. Mary's Church, at 11 a.m., by the Roy. H. H. Brown, and at 6.30 p.m. by the Yen. Arch* deacon Govett ; the Yen. Arohdeaoon Govett will also hold services at Tikorangi, at 10.30 a.m. ; Waitara, at 1.30 p.m., and Bell Block, at 3.30 p.m. The Rev. H. H. Brown at Omata, at 3.30 p.m., and Burton's Hill, at 6 p.m. Wesleyan Church Skh vices To-morrow. — Services will be held at the obapel in town to-morrow, at 11a.m. and 6.30 p.m., by the Bey. Mr. Smith ; at 801 l Blook, at 11 a.m., Mr. N. Hooker; at Manntahi, at 2*30 p.m., by Mr. N. Hooker; at Tataraimaka, at 11 a.m., the Rev. W. Kirk ; at Oukura, at 2.30 p.m., by Rer. W, Kirk. Primitive Methodist Services To-mor-row. — Servibfls will be held at the ohaoel in town, at 11 a.m. and at 6.30 p.m., Rev. J. Dumbell ; at the Henni, at 2.30 p.m., Rev. J. Dumbell ; at Bell Blook, at 6.30 p.m., Mr. S. Gale | at Mangorei, at 2.30 p.m., Mr. H. Gilbert. ! A Good Yield op Barlkt. — A Christohorob exchange sayß that Mr. C. Young, farmer, Church Bush, threshed outsix and a-balf acres of barley, which yielded five hundred and twenty-two bushels, or equal to rather over eighty bushels per aore. Railways in India. — They are very careful of thoir Governor in India when they have to tnako a railway for his especial nse. From a paper called The Critique, published at Seounderabad, we make the following extract :: — •■ We learn that vigorous efforts are being made by the Executive Engineer (Mi, H. Tyndall, C.E.), to finish the laying of the rails of the Hyderabad State Railway as far as Lingampilly, about fourteen miles from this place ; so that his Excellency Lord Napier may not be put to the inoonvenienoe of going I ovor bad roads."