THE WESTERN STAR. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1873.

Western Star, Issue 2, 22 November 1873, Page 4

THE WESTERN STAR. PUBLISHED WEEKLY. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1873.

Good Templaeism is one of the most singular of the many extraordinary social movements that have characterised the, history of the past twenty years. Originating- a few years ago in the happy idea of an enthusiastic teetotaller, the society of Good Templars has extended its ramifications over the whole civilised world, and numbers its members by hundreds of thousands. These members pledge themselves to a life-long abstinence from acoholic beverages, and the object of the association is convert all mankind to their yiews—to unite all

classes and all races on a comnSOfl of total abstinence. For members are expected to discourage, by every means within their, power, thelL liquor traffic, to attract mem apd women I to their organisation, and to'influence legislation by banding together to secure the return of men to parliament who will advocate their measures. To swelling their ranlks female influence is largely employed, and the Society, although not a benefit one in the received acceptation of the terra, offers inducements in the shape of assistance and encouragement to disabled or indigent members. In its internal arrangements at attempt at an imitation of the Masonic order seems to have been made. Certain portentous s secrets are suppoaecLtp % ■ i sion of the ous officers, preside over its meetings regalia of the higher officers is of a most gorgeous description. Lately the parent Society in England despatched an emissary to New Zealand, who is now actively engaged in spreading the doctrines of the Order. Although the selection was scarcely the happiest, no doubt the apostle of Templarism will during his tour found many lodges and secure many adherents. Such dire evils have been inflicted upon society by intemperance that any attempt to stay the course of this vice—to restore to self-respect and society those. who have degraded themselves by inordinate indulgence in intoxicating liquors, and to prevent others from acquiring the pernicious habit of “ nobbierising”—is hailed by right-thinking men with satisfaction, and encouragement is not wanting. Total Abstinence Societies, although their members may occasionally be subjected to “ chaff,” command respect, and possess prestige and influence, which they could not have acquired had they not public sympathy and confidence. Good Templarism on its advent to this colony was warmly welcomed as a valuable ally to the cause of total abstinence; but since it has taken root and spread over the land, distrust in its constitution, modes of procedure and operation, and influence for good, have become general even among those who view total abstinence organisations with favour—indeed, ’ many members of those bodies condemn Templarism strongly. Good Templarism, so far as relates to its efforts to arrest the course of intemperance, may be described as teetotalism running amuck. While teetotal societies distinguish those who moderately and discreetly indulge in stimulants fcorner those who drink their away in beastly ,orgies . I'K include all in the,: : !Uki.b arbitrarily classes —Good drunkards. Indeed, we heard an officer of high rank in the Order assert that moderate drinkers inflict more injury on society than those who indulge to excess. The mode they principally rely on to effect their purpose is legislative prohibition of the liquor traffic, which they purpose to bring about by using their voting power to return men to parliament pledged to carry out their instructions. While no objection can be urged against fair and open combinations, to influence parliament for the purpose of securing any legitimate object, the British mind naturally revolts against the idea of a secret organisation becoming a controlling power in state. It savours too much of -th« American Ring system to find yond the Great Republic. There is also this danger: designing, unscrupulous men may force themselve into positions, enabling them to use the Order to lift them to political power, which they only desire to secure in order to accomplish their own selfish ends, regardless of the welfare of the country. Such things have been done when the world was no worse than now, and our Good Templar friends will do well to remember that total abstinence from spirits or beer is not a compendium of all the virtues. The Good Templars, in commute with, although to a far greater extent than, the total abstainers, misapprehend the spirit of the age. People in this nineteenth century will not be forced into any particular groove. Legislation prohibiting the sale of alcohol will not check but it will assuredly tend to demoralise the whole community. If people are not allowed to trade in liquor legally, they will do it illegally, raid no \ efforts on the' part of the Government,

W i?ifo' doing so. To prove H j.jifft, 3 we have only to look back to the in which smuggling was carried former years in the face of an coastguard, and, coming to our 4oi!i7to;timea and colony, to notice how f|slj .grog selling goes cn, defying every jVlfit’ort’ito check it. absurd to suppose that the or any other organisation, will ‘ ever do away with the use of alcoholic I beverages ; but they can do a great deal of good, notwithstanding. They can prevent the weak from becoming victims to temptations, and reclaim those who have already fallen. But to do this more)’ than iv rslic fanciful titles, fierce denua-V elation of strong waters, and mysterious" wtas-wordh is necessary., have i^ ; • : cifrd;'f it. ; ?- j pineal reinadiPS Will no -efiica- j cions in such, cases than they are in the | ordinary fils flesh is heir to. Shutting up public-houses to prevent drunkenness equals in absurdity using Holloway’s Ointment to cure a broken leg. s| Our remarks are not intended to disparage r, efforts to destroy intemperance, but rather to It render them more effective by indicating where much valuable energy that might he employed towards that end is uselessly expended; also to point out where social reformers, by a little more regard for public opinion and feelings, and a little moderation in their tone, might rally round their banner numerous allies, who, although not agreeing with them on all points, would yield invaluable assistance towards expediting the arrival of the “ Good time coming,” dreamed of ' by Good- Templars, when drunkenness shall no longer be numbered among the vices of mankind. A great deal of attention has of late been directel to the postal arrangements for the Western District. However satisfactorily they may have worked in past times, at present they fail to meet public requirements. They were made at a time when the population of the district was less numerous than now —when the value of frequent communication between the various centres was less appreciated. The postal authorities seem to be unaware of, or to quietly ignore, the progress made by the country. Consequently they have not extended the benefit of mail communication in a manner commensurate with the increased necessities caused by the general augmentation of population and importance of the several districts. At preseni mail communication between many localities in theWesterfl;Distri6t is simply a senseless vUiA'eipensive farce. People h to are matters of although, perhaps, they do not reach official ears. Flint’s Bush is about six miles from Riverton; yet a letter intended for transmission between the two places has to be carried a distance of over forty miles, and nearly two days are occupied on its journev. The coach of the successful contractor for the conveyance of the mails in 1874 is running on the Wallacetown road, and it passes within a couple of miles of Flint’s Bush Post-office, so that if the mail arrangements are not altered, after the Ist of January next a letter posted at Riverton for Flint’s Bush will be carried past its destination to Invercargill—a distance of twenty miles —and then back again over the same road, a like distance, before it finally || the post-office it is addressed to. via Then, again, there is no mail at all the Limestone Plains a very important agricultural settlement six or seven miles from Flint’s Bush. The settlers there are compelled to send a special messenger to Flint’s Bush Postoffice for their letters, which is a tax no community should be subjected to. Many districts of far less population and importance in other parts of the colony ; have a regular mail service, and we are at a loss to understand on what principle r the people of Liiqjjftone Plains are denied V that privilege. It certainly does seem singular that there should be no direct mail communication provided between Riverton andjthe localities we have mentioned. of the residents of these places'is transacted ill Riverton—-wiihin that town their interests are bound up. is, in fact, their commercial, and political capital. VVe trust that the postal authorities will lose ■lo'ftime in showing that they are

able to keep pace with the times. If they wish to increase their revenue, which suffers very considerably through the inefficiency of the present arrangements, they will establish direct and frequent communication between the various centres of pupulation, which they can easily do without incurring much extra expense, if they will take the trouble to arrange their services so as to fit in with established lines of communication. One of the first improvements to be undertaken will, we trust, be a direct mail between Riverton, Flint’s Bush, and the Limestone Plains.

Want of space prevents us from more than cursorily alluding in our present issue to the inconvenience and loss sustained by the mercantile community through the absence of wharfage accommodation in the port of Riverton. The charge from where the Wanganui is lying is us. way. One !my jisid. for rim ,1 addition had 100 bags o£qgraia destroyer rty water. Whose business is ft, to • cce 6 adequate wharfage is provided in tins per-, ? ■ There is gross neglect somewhere,'-;- Wv.i.

The contract time for the construction of the bridge across Jacob’s River expired yesterday. The amount of work done by the contractors was the driving of about two-thirds of the piles. The non-completion of the contract is due to the contractors being unable to procure the requisite timber, owing, we believe, primarily, to the labour famine the country is suffering from. The contractors applied for an extension of time, hut we are given to understand that notice was served on them to the effect that the Government would take the work off their hands immediately, i Since last Friday, Mr. T. Daniel, Immigration Agent for the Western Restrict, has rdc&ved applications for the introduction of 70 souls to the colony. The persons nominated were chiefly farm labourers.

The receipts of the province of Canterbury for the year amount to £786,369, and the expenditure to £362,144. A London telegram states that Sir John Coleridge has succeeded the late Sir William Bovill as Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas.

At the meeting of Lodge Western Pioneer, Good Templars, on Monday night, D.D.R.W.G.T., Bro. Westbrooke, of Invercargill, conferred their degrees upon several members. About a dozen members of the Invercargill Lodge were present on the occasion. Previous to the degrees being conferred, two new members were initiated. The late genial showers have had a most beneficial effect on the vegetable kingdom. The crops which were almost withered up by the late dry weather and blighting winds, have quite recovered, and are thriving excellently. The fruit trees promise an abundant and early crop. Bread is retailed at sd. the 4ft. loaf in Dunedin.

The severe frost last week levelled witli the ground the shaws of the early potatoes in exposed situations. Eecestey, an ancient sinner, who had during his long career enjoyed immunity from disease or suffering, was attacked by rheumatism. The torturing demon came in the night when the victim lav, unconscious of its approach, peacefully slumbering after a hard day’s toil. The left foot was the point of attack. The first twinge awoke our friend, who could not realise what had occurred. Twinge succeeded twinge, following each other in severity and rapidity in a sort of geometrical progression. Fairly beside himself with pain, stories he had heard of the Prince of Darkness translating to his sultry dominions without waiting for the usual preliminary of decease those who had served him faithfully recurred to his memory with startling vividness. He felt demon claws clutching his foot in vicelike grasp. Cold sweat poured from his brow; lys hair stood on end, and he gave liimself up for lost; the Evil one he imagined had come “in perpria persona ” to take Mm ; and he tried to think what special iniquity he had committed to entitle him to the distinguished honour. Finally, after one terrible paroxysm, despair gave him courage, and he grabbed his faithful spouse —who was sweetly reposing beside him—by the hair. Giving her a violent shake, he frantically yelled, “ Mary! Mary! Get up ! get up, and say your prayers! The devil’s got me by the leg, and is dragging me away ; say your prayers qiuck, and save me!” What Mary replied is unfortunately not px’eserved ; but it is to be presumed her husband was immensely relieved when he discovered that his alarm was premature. The annual meeting of members and gentlemen interested in the Riverton Caledonian Society was held on Monday evening at Longford’s Commercial Hotel —Captain Hankinson in the chair. The secretary (Mr. Peter Grant) apologised for the absence of the treasux-er, and gave an oral statement of the affaii’s of the Society, from which it appeared that there was 7s. fid. in hand. The following office-bearers were elected : OLp r esident, Mr. L. M'Gillivray ; vice-president Snd treasurer, Mr. D. Murchie; secretary, Mr. Peter Grant: Directors Messrs. Matthews, Menzies, Henderson, Hirst, M'Naughton, Acheson, Printz, Kelman, Cassells, MTntyre, M'Donald, Petchell, Mills, Longford, Haukinson, Schmidt, Rocke, Cook, Daniel, Teesdale, Reid, Wilson, Lyon, A. M'Kenzie, M. M'Kenzio, J. h! Menzies, Robertson, Long, and J. C. Kerr. The sports were fixed to take place on Boxing vß a y, 26th December. A committee—consisting I'df Messrs. Henderson, Mills, Robertson, and the seei’etary —was appointed to make the necessary pi’eliminary arrangements, draw up a programme, select ground, and collect funds. The committee were also dix’cctcd to audio the books of the Society, and to fix the date for a meeting of the directors. A vote of tharuc to the chairman brought the proceedings to a close.

The annual show of the Clutha Agricultural and Pastoral Society is to be held at Balclutha on Thursday next, the 27th inst. The Aparixna river was last week visited hy an immense shoal of mullet of splendid quality, judging by the samples captured by the fishermen.

The Winton Jockey Club annual races will take place on the 26th and 27th. December. There are ten events, and the amount of the prizes offered is £225. _• ' ! The new Primitive Methodist Church, Invercargill is to be opened for Divine service tomorrow.

John Campbebb, of Jacob’s River, a bankrupt, made application before the Registrar of the Supreme Court, Invercargill, on Monday last, for his final order and discharge, which was granted —there being no opposition. Mr, Harvey appeared for the bankrupt. Such is the extraordinary scarcity of labour in the province of Hawke’s Bay that no tenders were received for the supply of timber—3oo,ooo feet—for the Waipukurau railway. . Mr. Prank Cavenagh, of Dublin, preached at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday evening. Owing to the shortness of. the there: "was not so large ?A--M»erw^nyQHld_jmv& n feem ■The preacher took for, ol-tlse Prodigal Son, and delivered thereon a very earnest and impressive discourse. At the conclusion of the service, a gentleman of the Christadelphian persuasion essayed to expound the doctrines of his sect, but those present were not inclined to listen, and quickly dispersed. Tee meeting of the Riverton Town Council, which was to have been held on Tuesday night, lapsed for want of a quorum. The Mayor arrived at the Council Chambers at 8 o’clock, and remained till about half-past 8 o’clock. A few minutes after the latter time Councillor’s Mills, Instone, and Murchie put in an appearance. Cr. Mills stopped only a minute or two, and immediately he took his departure, Cr. Reid presented himself. Crs. Instone, Murchie, and Reid remained until a quarter to ten, in the vain hope of some other Councillors turning up. Mb. J. R. Cuthbertson, writing to the “ Invercargill Times,” says that the failure of the Grammar School to meet the educational wants of the town is a topic of common conversation. He attributes the unsatisfactory state of the school chiefly to the crowding together of a large number of children, in every stage of progress, from the alphabet to advanced classics and mathematics, which renders classification impossible, and the teaching of boys and girls together in the advanced classics. The remedies Mr. Cuthbertson suggests are, the establishment of elementary side schools for beginners, the restriction of the Grammar School to pupils of ten years of age, who have already acquired the elements of an English education, and the establishment of a Girls’ School. He also hints that parents wishing their cliildren taught the higher branches should of themselves support an institution for that purpose, but considers the public Grammar School, even in its present state, an effectual bar to the establishment of such institution. Warden Wood arrived in Riverton on Thursday evening, and took his depasture the following morning for Orepuki, where he will remain about a week. 4(_ln the “ Provincial Government Gazette ” of

ftlie 12tli iust., the following reserves are notified : —Section 2, block 3, Riverton, reserved for educational purposes ; section 21, block 1, Riverton, as a site for an Athenaeum ; and block 4, Green-, hills township, and the land between the said block and the railway, together containing 6a. 2f. 16p., as a stone reserve for the municipality of Invercargill. The Under-Secretary for Immigration intimates that in special cases immigrants may be nominated by trade or calling through the friends or agents in England of the nominators. The Resident Magistrate’s Court will sit at Riverton on Wednesday, 3rd December. We remind publicans and others interested that the annual licensing meeting will be held on Tuesday, the 2nd December. Last year’s railway receipts in Canterbury showed an excess of receipts over expenditure of twenty thousand pounds. The Government have decided to hold the next intercolonial shooting match at Napier. The Cardigan Castle has arrived at Lyttelton from London with 206 adults on board.

Opposition in coaching is the rule of the times all over the province, and the Riverton and Invercargill road forms no exception. In addition to the old established line of Mr. Campbell, there is now another in full operation, started by Mr. MTntyre. The coaches of the latter are all that can be desired, and they are drawn by capital teams. Mr. MTntyre’s coaches go via Wallacetown, which is much pleasanter travelling than by the beach, and affords the people of Flint’s Bush and Waianiwa coaching facilities, which, no doubt, they will duly appreciate. As a matter of course the competition for public favour has caused a reduction in fares. We direct attention to the lecture to be delivered by T. Perkins, Esq., of Invercargill, at the Oddfellows’ Hall, on Tuesday night, in aid of the funds of the Athenoeum, The subject, “ Ghosts and Magic,” will, we are sure, be treated by the lecturer in a manner at once instructive and attractive, so that those who may attend, in addition to helping a valuable local institution, will enjoy a treat rare in this locality. The Steam Shipping Company, recently formed in Invercargill, have resolved to send home for a steamer suitable for the trade between Dunedin t and the Bluff, Invercargill, and Riverton. The first wool of the season arrived in Riverton yesterday from Mr. Young’s, Erraedale. < Me. Allan, the immigration officer at Dump*

din, is winning golden opinions by the zealous manner In which he fulfils the onerous duties of his office, immigrants who have come to Southland speak in the most flattering terras of his uniform kindness and attention, which will exercise a rery favourable effect in the homo country,