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Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 31, 11 July 1872, Page 2

The "Argus" says: "We understand it is the intention of the Banfc of New Zealand, shortly to open a'branch 1 in Melbourne for transactioH of business connected .with New Zealand, and for ibVeale and purchase of London exchange. Theinspector of the bank, -Mr. David L. Murdoch, ifl now here making making preliminary arrangements, and we; arl informed that Mr. T. M..Stewart, at. present manager at the head office of the bank in Anckland, is to represent. the institution in this city. The growing importance of the connection between Victoria and New Zealand, no doubt, renders this step highly desirable, and we doubt not our merchants doing business with our colony will hail with satisfaction the opening of this branch of the Bank of New Zealand. .

HABITUAL DRUNKARDS. The Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed to inquire into the best method of to take evidence, Mr. Dpnild Dalryßople in the chair. The chairman said it had been proposed thai; he should pface himself in communication with the irepresentatvres of some of the leading States : in Europe with a view to ascertaining what information they could afford with referenced the subject Hβ had personal communication with the French Embassy, the Australian Embassy, the Ministers of Switzerland,. Holland,. Sweden, and Norway, from whom he had been promised the- best assistance theycould render. Mr. Smith, the governor of Ripon prison, was then called, and said that for. years..heiiad made himself i acquainted with the .habits of the criminal population of that country,,and his experience was that there was a large class who only worked a day or two in order, to obtain money for drink. Tfctesjß people often went about from town to town hawking small wares, and their ofiencoa were ttimply drunkenness and assaults, and not larcenies. There was a woman now on the books pf his prison who had been seven timesin Wakefield Gaol for periods of from three! days to three months; in Leeds. Gaol, eleven times for periods of from eight days to a month ; and in Ripon Gaol fifteen times. for -periods of from fourteen to two months. This is "58 committals for a total period of 5 years 9 mouths and 20 days, extending over 25 years, from 1847 to the present time. ■Hβ knew of other cases of a similar character, and his ex. perience. taught him that short sentences were of no value whatever; drunkards must be detained for a longer period than this. Hβ found that they were usually physically weak, and their mental capacity was below the mark. He found that drunkenness generally was enherited from the parents, and the committals of women were not only more numerous, bat they were more , inveterate drinkers than men. lie would suggest that a further power be given to the Justices in petty sessions ; that they should, after a given number pf convictions, hare the power of sending the offenders for a long period, either to prison or to some other convenient place, not with hard labor, but with some productive lajfc>or so as to enable ! him to earn something during his confinement. He would do this not only on "the ground that society would be rid of such people for a time, but also because he believed many of them would be cured pf their drunken habits by long abstention. He believed if drink were removed out of their way the desu'e for it would cease, and he did not think there would be a relapse directly the person was liberated. Hβ had reason to believe that if proper placne I were provided for habitual' drunkards, many who could not refrain from drink would go ?into them, of their ; own free will in drder to make an effort to overcome their habits. This would unquestionably We cheaper than maintaining them in a prison.