The Weekly Gazette for Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool and Cleveland District. — 1883-03-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SPEECHES BY TEETOTAL MAYORS. A somewhat remarkable temperance meeting was held in the Guildhall on Wednesday night, at which twelve out of twenty-seven of the chief Magistrates of English and Welsh boroughs "who have publicly identified themselves with the temperance movement" delivered addresses.—The Loan MAYOR, who pre. 'sided, frankly acknowledged that he Was not: and did not intend to become, s total abstainer, but he aimpathised with the cause of sobriety, and it was his experience, as a magistrate, that nine-tenths, if not nineteen-twentieths, of the brutality and crime that came before him had their origin in the curse of drink.—The MAYOR or Bunenvoitait (Mr White), forty-six years a teetotaler, spoke of good done by temperance societies in that borough.—Mr Woommuss (the Mayor of Leeds) stated that the money spent annually on the three great textile industries—cotton, woollen, and linen—amounted to £66,000,000, the amount expended on bread to £70,000,000. Adding these together, the total wasted in intoxicants was as nearly as possible the same, £136,000,000.—The Mayor of Bradford (Mr F. Priestman) referred to the great success of coffee-taverns in his borough, where, though paying very high rentals, they have paid 10 per cent. interest. Speeches were also made by the Mayors of Bath (Mr Handel Cossham), of Rotherham (Mr E. Kelsey), of Crewe (Mr J. Ainsworth), of Kendal (Mr , J. Sornervell), of Grantham (Mr G. S. Han- ' nett), of Newbury (Mr J. Hopton), of St. Ives, Cornwall (Mr J. M. Kernick), and St. Ives (Mr H. Goodman).—Mr KERNICK greatly entertained the audience with his account of the state of things in Cornwall, where one-half of the population had signed a petition to Parliament in favour of Sunday closing. In St. Ives they had closed most of the public-houses, and with a population of over 7-,000 they had not had a case of drunkenness before the Bench for two years; they had only a single policeman, and he had nothing to do Mr S. Morley, M.P., moved "That this meeting rejoices in the encouraging circumstances that the mayors of twenty-seven English and Welsh boroughs have publicly identified themselves with the temperance movement, and resolves to express its gratitude to those who have this evening given their valuable testimony in favour of total abstinence from intoxicating drinks." He said he was very glad to see his lordship presiding over the meeting, and thanked him for the courage he had shown. They were dealing, not with a sentimental, but with a practical question, which was of the gratest importance, and were engaged in conflict with the great national evil. He did not believe the statement which had been made as to their being the most drunken nation in Europe. The chairman had said nineteen out of twenty eases that came before him in his magisterial capacity were due to drunkenness, but perhaps his lordship might have said that ninety-nine out of every 100 cases of crime with violence would be found to be accociated with drink. They were bound to remedy such a state of things. It was very easy to ridicule the line taken by total abstainers, but it should be recollected that if there were no ' drinkers there would be no drunkenness. In London they wanted fewer refreshment bars, the young men in the City employed in ware' I houses being put in the greatest peril from the increase of their numbers, many of which were I in such out of the way places that access to them could be had without being observed. ' Sir Rutherford Alcock, in a speech which he , had made, stated that in one day in London ;he saw more brutality and degradation than he did in China for 20 years, and if that were so it was evident that they should try and find a remedy for such a state of things , which ought not to beiribmitted to if any ! alteration could be -brou ht about by legisla, tion.—Mr A. Pease, .P., seconded the . motion, which was carried unanimously.—On , the proposition of Lord Claud Hamilton, , seconded by Mr G. Palmer, M.P., a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Lord Mayon—The proceedings then terminated.  Foot and mouth disease continues to spread in Cheshire, and the authorities are taking strict measures. There are now 318 cattle affected in Lancashire.  Mr Peacock. auctioneer and fish salesman, committed suicide at Lowestoft Railway Station on Wednesday by shooting himself.