The Waikato Argus.. CEORGE EDGCUMBE, Proprictor. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1897.

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 111, 25 March 1897, Page 2

The Waikato Argus. . CEORGE EDGCUMBE, Proprictor. THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1897.

To - day a considerable sum of money will be fooled away on the election of Licensing Commissioners, who when elected could be done without, and the Licensing Laws be administered better by the Stipendiary .Magistrates than they are ever likely to be by the popular tribunals to which the duty is to be entrusted. It. is too late to discuss this matter now, but it appears to us that the time is particularly opportune fur once more bringing under public notice the question of establishing inebriate asylums for those who ;ire suffering from the now recognised disease dipsomania.

This matter has been brought once more under our notice by an interview by a representative of our Auckland morning contemporary with the Rev. Mr Wolfenden, of Victoria, who is a gentleman who has taken a great interest in the medical treatment of inebriates, by the bi-chloride of gold system. This is what the rev. gentleman says of the experiment made in Victoria : —" A committee of the Victorian Alliance investigated in 1894 the results obtained by the treatment adopted for the cure of inebriety by the National Bi-chloride of Gold Institute. They stated in their report : ' They were afforded all necessary facilities for arriving at the truth. A number of the cured patients, who are termed graduates of the institute, have met us and given their testimony. We are convinced that while the drinking customs of society and the liquor traffic are allowed to create inebriates the curative work which we have described will lie invaluable." The committee found that out of 43 patients treated, 35 remained wholly free from the craving for drink. During the past five years in Victoria the process shows 72 per cent, of cures. Mr Wolfenden added "One man cured of drunkenness is worth more as a witness than all the books that ever were written to prove that drunkenness is altogether a vice or an incurable disease. When a man has felt an irresistible impulse to drink and then finds that impulse taken away and in its place a sense of responsibility that causes him to avoid drink, such a man ought to have his testimony received. Today there are many such testimonials in the Australian Colonies, both men and women. In reply to a question as to failures, the rev. gentleman said " Yes, of course, we cannot find a man anew stomach or liver, or put in fresh brains. But I have seen cases that seemed too far gone for us to find to work upon. Of 44 women treated for drink, morphia and chlorodyne, only one relapsed. Of men the average of cures is 72 per cent." This is certainly a good record, and is unquestionably a strong argument in favour of the system. Several attempts have been made to establish asylums in this colony, but they have failed, mainly because of the cost. As a question of morality, should the cost of treating, a man suffering from disease with a view to curing him of that disease in place of sending him to jail as a criminal, stand in the way. Considering that a very large proportion of the revenue of the country is derived from the consumption of liquors, there can be only one answer. The cost of the licensing elections, for which there is no earthly necessity, would go a very long way towards erecting the necessary buildings. The statement of the Rev. Mr Wolfenden, which we publish above does away with the argument that the disease is incurable. The extreme temperance party will no doubt urge that it is the duty of the State to stamp out the disease by prohibition. All practical minds have long recognised, that prohibition is an impossibility for many years to come at any rate. In the meantime it would certainly be logical for that party to throw all their influence into the scale, to mitigate the evils of drink, by setting apart some of the revenue derived from its consumption to curing its victims. To punish a man because he is suffering from a disease is both illogical and inhuman, and a blot upon the escutcheon of every people who adopt the principle.

An election to fill an extraordinary vacancy in the Kihiltihi Town Board will be held on Tuesday, April 13th. .Nominations of candidates must reach the Returning Officer (Mr R. Mainwaring) by noon on che 6ch prox. Harvest festival services in connection with the Salvation Army are announced for the '27th, 28th and 29th March. The Divisional Secretary (Captain Burton) will conduct the meetings, and there will be a coffee supper on Saturday.

So many thefts of bicycles 'Have occurred in Wellington, not only from the streets hut from the interior of buildings, that it is believed an organised gang is at work, who systematically ship the machines away to other parts of New Zealaud and to Australia.

A meeting of the Finance Committee of the Raglan County Council was held at Raglan on Saturday last. The following tenders were dealt with: —Whatawhata bridge, cleaning and repairs : I). Seott—cleaning, 3s (id per week ; repairs, 2s (id per plank ; lliggiuson—cleaning, Si per month ; repairs, '2d per lineal foot for planking (accepted). Contract No. 1, Kauroa : Carruthers, £l3 ; Collins and La Trobc, .Cl 4 17s Gd (accepted). Contract ISo. 2, Kauroa : Johnson, for contracts No. 1 and 2, £4S I2s (id ; Collins and Co., £'22 10? ; Mould, £lO 10s (accepted).

Money is evidently plentiful. On a recent evening (says the Gore Standard), th<; Gore Jiorough Council opened tenders for a loan of £IOOO for seven years at per cent. Twelve tenders were received, all of which, except two, were for the full amount of the loan. One at £lO2, one at ClOl 15s, two at £lOl, one at £IOO 3s, one at £IOO Is Id, anil seven were at par. The tender of Mrs Fcuwick (Maheno), at £lO2 for the full amount was accepted. Three of the tenderers were local financiers, one was from Invereargill, and the others were from Dunecliu. The price received (£2 premium) is considered exceptionally good. An English custom of not long ago was to hang smuaglera on gibbets arranged along the coasts, and then tar the bodies, that they might be preserved a long while, as a warning to other culprits. As late as 1522 three men thus varnished could have been seen hanging before Dover Castle. • Sometimes the process was extended to robbers, asassins, incendiaries, and other criminals. John Painter, who fired the dockyard at Portsmouth, was iirst lumped and then tarred in 1770. from time to time he was given a fresh coat of varnish, aud thus was made to last nearly 14 years. The weird custom did not stop smuggling ur other crime, Lut no doubt it worked some intiusnec at> a preventive.

A new company has been formed to take over from the present company and work the New Zealand Times, subject to the consent ot the present shareholders.

On Sunday next the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated at the Presbyterian and Wesleyan Chinches, Hamilton, at the morning and evening services respectively. The attendants at Christ Church, Kihikihi, are notified that the service on Sunday will be held at 7 instead of 7.30 p.m. Service will be at the some hour each alternate Sunday until further notice.

The Rev. J. M. Mitchell will deliver a lecture on " The Bonnie Brier Bush" in the Marsh Meadows schoolroom at 7.30 p.m. this evening. The lecture will be interspersed with musical selections.

The Piako bridge, near Morrinsville, being dangerous and unsafe for heavy traffic, persons are warned not to cross it at other than a walking pace and all weights over two tons ate prohibited from crossing at all.

At the first day's races in connection with the Napier Park Meeting on Tuesday, Mr D. MoKinuon's colt Picklock (Flintlock—Pikau) won the two-year-old race, beating St. Conan by a short head, and rewarding his backers with a dividend of £4 19s.

Messrs McNicoland Co. will hold a special sale of horses in the Cambridge Yards to-morrow (Friday), commencing at 10 a.m. sharp. Upwards of 300 horses of all classes have been entered, so buyers should have no difficulty in selecting their requirements.

The following tenders were received for work on the Nawton Koad near Hamilton, by the Executive of the Waipa County Council, on Tuesday, viz.:— Exelby, drain, 12s 6d per chain ; culvert, £1 7s (accepted) ; Scott, drain, 12s per chain ; culvert, £2 IPs.

The monthly meeting of the Waikato District Hospital and Charitable Aid Board will be held at the Borough Council Chambers, Hamilton, to day. In addition to the usual business, the annual tenders and the framing of the estimates for the coming year will be considered.

The following have been appointed committees in connection with the Congregational Jhurch in the Raglan district. .Raglan :Mr A. Smith and the Misses Bay and Johnstone. Ruapuke : Messrs Ward, Jackson, Given and Rintoul. Te Mata : Messrs Nicholsou and Saunders, and Mrs and Miss Saunders.

The Rev. J. J. Mather has presented the Hamilton Public Library with the following works, which will prove a most valuable, addition to the lending branch of that institution :—"The Black Watch " (Archibald Forbes), "Memories and Studies of War and Peace" (Archibald Forbes), "Fridtiof Naiiben" (from the Norvegiau of Brogger and Kolfscn).

Storekeepers and others rihould note that to-day will have to be observed as a public holiday from noon, as it is the clay on which the licensing election is held. This is according to section 10 of the Alcoholic Liquors Sale Control Amendment Act of 1895. It is somewhat ambiguous about the day on which the general election is held, but there is not the slightest doubt about that on which the licensing election takes place.

We were sorry to hear that Mr P. Devitt was admitted into the Waikato Hospital on Tuesday last suffering with a severe attack of inflammation of the lungs. On inquiry at the Hospital yesterday we learnt that he had not shown any improvement. Mr Devitt is a sou of Mr Jno. Devitt, ot Hamilton East, and has been working in the goldtields districts for some months past, where he has contracted a severe cold.-.

Mr W. A, Graham informed us on Tuesday that he had received a telegram stating that the. question of introducing during the forthcoming session the 33111 granting the bonus of £50,000, in connection with the establishment of the sugar-beet industry, was before the Cabinet. Mr Graham has communicated with the Premier pointing out the desirableness of doing so, and he would be glad if all who could, would use their influence in keeping the matter to the front.

We have to acknowledge, with thanks, the receipt from the publishers of a copy of Cleave's Auckland Directory forJB97. This publication is brought up to date with the most reliable information, aud as a vaile mceum for business men is indispensable. The directory is given in three forms —viz., sub-divided into towns and districts, alphabetical and according to trades, professions and business callings- In addition to this, all local matters of interest are touched on in a concise form.

The National Hotel at Cambridge had a narrow escape of being destroyed by fire on Tuesday evening. Mr E. Ifwersen, Sargood's representative, was in the sample-room with some customers about 9.30 p.m., when a hanging rochester lamp fell and in a moment the room wis in a blaze. With great difficulty the lire was extinguished, but not until Mr lfwerseu's coat and some sample boots had been destroyed. Two sample cases and the counter were scotched ; but for assistance being at hand the hotel must have gone.

A meeting of the committee appointed on Saturday night to carry out a cycling and foot sports meeting, in Homilton, on May 24th, was held in the Commercial Hotel yesterday afternoon. Mr Mann reported that he had inspected Mr Qualtfough's paddock, and found that it would lie quite impracticable to form a track there unless at a very considerable expense. Mr Sandes also reported that on looking into the borough records he discovered that he had been under a misapprehension. He found that the section was not a recreation re serve, and that Mr Qualtrouph held it under al4 years' lease. Mr Mann then said under the circumstance the project had better be abandoned, and he therefore moved that in view of the facts disclosed, the proposed sports meeting be abandoned. This was seconded by Mr Sandes and carried.

By yesterday morning's train an old identity ot the Waikato left Cambridge for Auckland en route for Wellington, in the person of Miss Ellen Wiilson, who for the past thirty years has been a resident of Waikato, and for a considerable period has been known as an expert teacher of the piano. She is a'so a composer of great ability, and has published numerous songs and pianoforte solo 5 ?, but owing to the limited population of New Zealand we fear her tfTorts did not ineei with their due reward. In former years Miss Willison published her songs under the mom tie plume " Estelle," but of late she used ner own name, and only a little time ago a gavotte of her composing was performed by the Auckland Orchestral Society. .She was also an expert with the pen, and one of her publications caused a considerable stir in Cambridge about fourteen years ago by its cutting sarcasm. We refer to the " Chronicles of Cambridge." Only a few have now copies of the work and they arc greatly treasured. They were perhaps a trifle too pungent, but, nevertheless, they were cleverly written. Miss Wiilson will leave Wellington per the Gothic for Kng'and and we believe she intends residing in London. She will he in time to witness the record reign celebration!) to the Queen, and we feel sure no more royal subject will be preeent. We wish Aliss WiUson bo*i voyage and trust she may enjoy health and strength for many years in iter native laud.

An English mail via Rio cie Jancira, will be despatched from Hamilton at 1.30 pm. on Saturday. At the Duncdin Police Court a driver of a cart was lined 5s for not drawing to the left to make room for bicyclists to pass him on the right side. There was room for the wheelmeu to pass the cart on the left, but the rule of the road applies to them, and the Cyclists' Tounni' Club brought a test ease to show that drivers must make it possible for wheelmen to comply with the rule.

A concert was given" in the Oddfellows' Hall, Cambridge, on Monday evening in aid of Miss Celia Dampier. The audience was not a large one. The talented young violinist contributed no less than four items, for all of which she was loudly applauded. Miss Farrell sang three songs, and added further to her reputation as a first-class vocalist. A host of other friends also assisted in a most successful manner.

" Who's for the colonies ?" Such was the cry raised about a week ago by M. Chnilley-Bcrt in a lecture which he delivered under the chairmanship of the Comte d'Haussonville, for the purpose of inducing "French women to emigrate. He pointed out that, so far as the French element was concerned, the fair sex was at a premium in the possessions of the Kepublic, and he argued that this was the reason why men who went out from this country rarely settled for good, as they had not comfortable homes, and were forced to shift as best they could. The reply to this invitation has (the Paris correspondent of the Loudon Daily Telegraph informs us) been both prompt and significant. In the brief interval nearly 100 letters have been received by the ' Union Colonialc from women who have expressed their eagerness to emigrate, and more than 40 ladies have called at its headquarters for the same purpose. The majority of the applicants are girls who have been trained as schoolmistresses, but who have failed to obtain places, the supply in this department being much greater than the riemand. Dressmakers' and milliners' hands are also well to the fore, and a small proportion of the volunteers describe themselves as having no trade or calling, but display the utmost zeal in the cause. All—with the exception of three fair ones, who have respectively set their affections on Algeria, Tunis and Indo-China—are absolutely fancy free, and ace perfectly willing to start at a moment's notice, bag and baygagc, to any colony to which they may be desp itched, Unfortunately disappointment is in store for some of the candidates, as one-third of them have been rather ungallantly pronounced to he too old to make the leap, and are thus disqualified. This, however, is a detail. The respectable figure of about one hundred young women who are ready to face the dangers of the briny ocean and to confront the risks of any climate to which they may be transported has been attained. The spell has been broken, and the competition among Gallic spinsters, and, for that matter, fascinating widows, for passages to French colonics, protectorates and settlements generally, bids fair ere long to be very keen.