The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1874.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 2197, 29 April 1874, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED ON WEDNESDAYS AND SATURDAYS. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1874.

A spat having become vacant in the i Provincial Council by the appointment of Mr. C. D. Whitcombe to the office of Commissioner of Crown Lands, the electors of*the Town of New Plymouth will shortly be called upon to elect another member to occupy his place. We understand that there is likely to be a contest for this seat. Mr. Charles Brown has notified that he intends to stand ; and Mr. Thomas Kelly, in reply to a nnmerously signed requisition, intimates that he will allow himself to be nominated. It is very gratifying to find such an interest taken in our provincial politics, and that gentlemen of political reputation have come forward to represent the electors. Although we bavediifered from Mr. Brown's political views on more than one occasion — and it is probable that we shall have to do so again — yet it cannot but be acknowledged tthat he is a shrewd politician, and one who, if he once takes a matter up, -tries his beat to carry it ont. Mr. •Charles Brown, until he appeared as a candidate for the Snperintendency, had retired from politics for some fonr years; in fact, since Mr. Carrington was first olected Superintendent of the Province. He now, however, again appears in tho political arena, and seeks the suffrages of the electors for a seat in the Provincial Council. On the other hand, a large number of the electors, considering that the absence of Mr. Thomas Kelly from the Provincial Council is a great loss to the Province., have asked him to stand ; to which that gentleman has replied, acceding to their request. Mr. Kelly, from his knowledge of tho requirements of tho Province, and his position as a member of the General Assembly, would, if elected, prove a valuable addition to the Coaneil. He has been a member of the House of Representatives for some years, and matters connected with the Province, and its position with regard to the General Government are so familiar to him, that any information on the subject required by the members of the Council would readily be obtained without having to go in a round-about-way to get at it. Mr. Kelly is a man of judgment as well as action. He is one who is alive to all that is going on around him ; and is possessed of both

talent and tact. Mr. Kelly's actions in the Assembly are pretty well known. He urged the construction of the Waitara railway in the House, and fought till the point was carred. When Mr. Carrington proposed his harbour scheme to the House in 1871, he found a strong supporter in Mr. T. Kelly. On the question of handing the land over to the Province, Mr. Kelly and his Honor were both on tbe Bame side fighting for the rights of the Province. But it i 3 needless for ns to recapitulate what must be fresh to most of our readers. Mr. Kelly, it is acknowledged on all sides, has proved a good member in tbe House, and it is but reasonable to suppose that he would look after the interests of the Province in the same manner if elected to the Council. Whilst we have nothing to say against Mr. C. Brown — who would be a useful member if he was in the Council — yet we must own, of the two candidates, we should prefer seeing Mr. Kelly returned, believing from his intimate knowledge of the affairs of the Province, and his position in the General Assembly, that he would prove to be of greater assistance in promoting the welfare and prosperity of the Province.

Temperance Societies, and those persons who are moßt active in endeavouring to sappresß drunkenness, rather thwart the ends they seek to gain, by the manner in whioh they go •boot their work. It in not always by beating a child that you will make it good ; neither will those who seek to pnt down intemperance, cure the evil by trying to shut up all the public-houses, or by trying to prevent the importation of intoxicating liquors into a place. It has more than onoe struck at that those who take an interest in this reform of the world would sneoeed better by adopting a different course, and by enlisting in their oanse temperate persons— who are not teetotallers, bat who abhor drunkenness as mnoh, perhaps, as the staunohest Good Templar or anti-liquor advocate— Beck to reclaim the drunkard by curing him of his insatiable thirst for drink. Solemn pledges— though made with every intention of good faith — to abstain from intoxicating beverages, are not effectual in a great namber of cases, simply because a man who has no command over his paasions, requires the highest medical tre'atmeut to give toue to his faculties, before he can be perfectly reformed or cored. To abstain altogether, under usual circumstances, needs great firmness ; and this is a quality not generally possessed by men who have tn immoderate liking for strong drink. In America, notwithstanding the orusade against intoxicating drinks, the evil of drunkenness exists in a greater propor. tion to numbers than in Enrope. Finding that the evil cannot be suppressed (or oven reduced) by compulsory laws, another and wiser oonrse has been taken ; and now thousands, we learn, are being reformed by means of inebriate asylums— handsomo service thus being rendered to the State as well as to the individuals more immediately benefited. In Melbourne, a v Retreat" for the cure of drunkards hat already been established ; and now we find that in Sydney a similar institution is being founded. In both those Colonies the public have oomo forward with ready support. The efforts of those who havo interested themselves in the matter, have touohed the hearts of the people, who have assisted the promoters in a liberal manner. The Parliament of Victoria has also «ome to the aid -of the benevolent Committee there, and Jbas passed an Act to provide for the treatment and euro of drunkards. This Act authorises the establishment of Retreats, and pro* videß for the admission into it of inebriates. It aims at three principal objects. Inebriates may, npen Ibeir own application in their sober moments, be sent to a Retreat by a Justioe of the Peaces the fniends or relatives of any man, who bfcs become so weakened by the intemperate use of alcoholic liquor as to make him amenable -te the Aot, may cause him to be committed by a County Court Judge ; and vexatiouß applications are re strained toy the prevision that a summons may be dismissed with cost* against the applicant. The .Retreat in Melbourne is nearly self-supporting ; numbers of persons being willing to pay fur their admission and care whilst there. Such institutions are worthy of liberal support, for their aims are noble. There are few but who would go heart and band in assisting sooh an institution io this Colony ; and we hope that, next session, Mr. Fox, instead of urging upon .tho merabors his vexatious Permissive Bill, will direct bis attention to the introduction of an Aot which will provide an aaylnm fer the restoration of ihoso unfortunates who, enslaved by aloohol, are disgracing their families «■<! applying their substance te increase the impetus of their descent -to* drunkard's grave. Thß BtJTO ON CeLOMtAL DIBCH,LEUIB6 IS TO BE Kaisrd. A rumour to the«ffect that tho Government intend to do this has boen iv circulation in Auckland lateJy, and considering that the duty was only put at snob a low figure to encourage the establishment of distil, leries in the Colony, it is not suprising to learn from the Wellington Independent that Mr. McKellar, Chief Inspector of Distilleries, has written to the Dunedin and Auckland Distillery Companies, by direction of the Hon. Commissioner of Customs, informing tbeso companion that the Government propose to bring in a bill to raise the duty oa New Zealand spirits Is. per gallon on the Ist July, 1875 1 Is. per gallon on the Ist July, 1877 ; and Is. per gallon on the Ist July, 1879. The Gbnebal Assbmblv, we notice by oar telegrams, is to bo called together for the doRpalch of business on t>*e 3rd July. This is nearly a fortnight earlier than the House of Parliament «it»t last year ; but the delay theu arose through the non-arrival of the Governor. Although it is difficult to sny what may turn up during a session, still, from the present feeling of tho country, we should say that the Ministry would be able to carry all before them. Already we have inklings of some of the measures to be introduced, and reforms to be made ; but no subject of importance has been mooted ; so that the financial statement of the Premier and Treasurer will bo anxiously looked for.

Arrival of Mr. Thomas Bayly.— We are glad to weloome back to New Plymouth Mr. Thomas Bayly, jun., who, we believe, intends making this place his permanent home.