The opinions sin.l assertions of travellers are often quoted to prove the failure of the Maine law. I would by no means undervalue the opinions of travellers, especially when they are men of position and character. lam a traveller through your country, and expect to give my views and opinions on many things; but of what value would my opinion of various matters in Dunedin be, in comparison with that ot your Worship, whose long observation, and a full knowledge of many local circumstances of which I could have no knowledge, were necessary in order to the formation of a correct judgment? When the statements of travellers conflict with those of Mayors, and legislators, and Governors, aud those who have had every oppcrtunitj of knowing whereof they speak, they should have but little influence. In deciding a question of such grave importance as the one before us, we should weig'i the testimony most; cuefully. Has prohibitory legislation in the United States been a success or a failure? What is the test of success ? That it shall have entirely suppressed the evil against which it is aimed? If so, then sill criminal Laws are failures. But is not this a fair one —has it accomplished good? Has it lessened the evil against which it is (timed? Tried by this test, I claim that it has been a great success. Icl im, and I have, or can procure, the most abundant and conclusive evidence to prove—l That it has greatly diminished pauperisniiiithosestates where it exists. 2. That it ha.«gieatly diminished crime. 3. That it has diminished rowdyism and disorder. 4. That it has greatly diminished drunkenness. :>. That the material interests of the people have been greatly increased. 6. That it has ex erted a favourable influence upon the educa tional interests of the people. 7. That it has greatly improved the moral and religious in terests of the people. 8. That it has been en forced over a large extent of the territory of the Maine law States, and that wherever enforced there has been an entire change in the habits and condition of the people, fully realising the most sanguine anticipations of the friends of the measure. Hundreds of towns are almost entirely free from the curse. 