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Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 54, 15 August 1844, Page 3

At the second annu al meeting of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society, held at the Hall on the 6th inst, the following Report was there read and adopted Second Annual Report of the “ Auckland Total Abstinence Society. ” “A Year has now elapsed since ttie “ First Annual Report” ot the Auckland Total Abstinence Society was presented to the Public. Yoar Committee, in laying before the Society a Report of its progress for the past year, will endeavour to point out tire means which they have adopts ed for the extension of the principles of Total Abstj. nence, and how far they have been successful in this object, which they have steadily kept in view. In entering upon the duties of the year, your Committee found the condition of the Society hears ing a very nnprosperous aspect. A building had been commenced during the former year—’at a time when the settlement was in good circumstances:— but, from certain causes, it remained then uufinishs ed. Seeing the necessity of possessing a proper place in which to hold our meetings, we resolved upon making strenuous efforts to complete the erection —for we were convinced that prompt measures must be taken to secure the progressive usefulness of the Society, and to urge on the reformation partially begun. We were aware that ignorance of the nature and properties of intoxicating liquors was one of the chief obstacles in the progress of that retormation—consequently* unwearied diligence in agitating the subject, and indaeing investigation, was essential to the prosperity of the cause whose interest we had so much at heart. This course of action, we perceived, could not be pursued, so long as we were unable to hold our public meetings uninterrupted ; and accordingly, your Committee solicited Donations, and appointed Collectors in order to raise funds for completing your Hall. We wete thus enabled,

aided by tbe gratuiiious labour of Mechanics connected with the Society, and others, who, altho’ not members, were friendly to our institution. to advance the building so far as permitted us to hold meetings within its walls—and we fixed upon tbe 11th of October,-for the public opening of the Hall, which was commemorated by a Tea Party. Meanwhile your Committee made arrangements for presenting the public with a Series of Lectures upon “ The injurious properties [and effects of intoxicating liquors, and the principle of entire abstinence from the same.” A number of gentlemen agreed to deliver those Lectures monthly, and it was arranged that the subj ct of each lecture should be open for public discussion a fortnight after its delivery—in order to induoe enquiry, aad' furnish information. The first and second of the Lectures were delivered in the IVesleyan Chapel, which was kindly lent by the Trustees for the purpose, whilst the flail was in progress The Course has since been continued m the Society’s Hall—and your Committee would strongly recommend that this useful branch of the Society’s efforts should be continued regularly during the forthcoming year. Your Committee do lament to say, however, that, with the exception of the first three of those Lectures, tbe attendance has been very limited—and that so much apathy apparently exists respecting a subject of such vital importance as the extension of Temperance principles in a young Colony like New Zealand. However, your Committee are in possession of facts shewing that an advance is in progress of the silent, yet powerful influence of the principle of Total Abstinence over the habits and the general aspect of society in this portion of the Globe. We beg to mention the following instance—

Wm. Martin, Esq., Chief Justice of New Zealand, having been waited upon by two of our Collectors. for a Donation in favour of our building funds, stated, in conversation upon the principles of the Society, that he had, in company with the Lord Bishop of New Zealand, travelled overland from Port Nicholson to Aackland, (a distance of six or seven hundred miles) without partaking of any liquor stronger than water; and bis Honor further added, that he was certain ho could not have undergone the same amount of fatigue (having slept almost every night in the nor have performed.- the journey in the same space of time ('having travelled one hundred miles a-week over a rugged country) had he indulged in wines or spirits, however moderately. Your Committee are happy in being able to give the testimony of such at) highly esteemed indivis dual in favour of the principles of entire Abstinence from intoxicating liquors. Other cases might be stated shewing like lesults. Testimony has been given readily and decisively that Total Abstinence is enti<ely practicable. This thing, at one tinat deemed chimerical is last becoming common ; and altho’ the chains of absurd fashion prevent many from joining our ranks, yet, so far as they are indir vidually concerned, they follow our practice. To do without intoxicating liquors entirely has been attested as practicable, it is seen to be a mallei i. interest too, and will itself yet become fashionable, a fashion which we hope will not pass away lik< tlie costume of a season—but will last with th years of our adopted land and of time itself. Tin error is vanishing from the minds of men that ardent spirits is necessary for the laborer to strengthen him, for the man in health, to preserve his health, for the sick man to restore him, or lor the aged mao to renew his vigour—and the conviction that it is p ison, disease, death, aud destruction, of built soui body is takiug the place of former plausible b i eri oneous doctrines respecting its utility'. And what has produced this mighty change upon the minds of multi udes ? Most assuredly, under the Divine blessing, the combined eff >rts of individuals coiicemraien in Total Abstinence Societies—in not only pledging themselves to abstain from this source of evil hut. also, by uniting to discourage in every possible arm lawful manner the manufacture, '•ale, and consumption of intoxicating liquors. These Societies lnv< i raced this evil to its, origin—and have, by then wholesome agitation, Acuiated information on tlx. suoject which has, in a great nvasure, overthrown the antiquated opinious which bad so long injuriously influenced Society. A';d your Committee do mosi deeply deplore that amongst the influential and earnest Colonists of New Zealand so few are found who show a disposition to engage in this work, which we deem to be essentially necessary to the future unity and prosperity of both the European and Aboriginal inhabitants of these Islands. It is with special gratification that your Committee notice the general abhorrence evinced by the Ma ries to all intoxicating liquors. This, in itself, is convincing proof that such liquors are not necessary for man’s natural requisites. But altho’ we observe that the New Zealanders, generally, spurn the vile habit which degrades even the savage—and is shew ing that they have so much self-respect as to hate this vice ('taught them by the white man), and d;-« termination to be free from its tyranny and miseries —yet, it cannot be doubted, numbers of the Mao* rie race are becoming addicted to dram-drinking. We regret that some of them have been noticed in our streets, under the influence of intoxication during the past year. This fact alone, your Committee consider, is sufficient reason why the exertions of your Society should be extended, and we would strongly and earnestly recommend that efforts should be made to establish Total Abstinence Societies amongst the native tribes ; because we are of opirnou that the permission recently given by our Local Rulers for*the extensive manufacture of spirits will, if confirmed by the Home Government, most assuredly present very dangerous and bewitching temptations to the Aboriginal population. Fully im pressed with this conviction, and seeing that this Society has failed in its remonstrance on the subject with the Legislative Council of this Colony, your Committee would now uige upon the members of the Society to use every means iu their power to prevent the sanction and authority of law (Hu however remote a way ) being added to the already gigantic strength of the monster drunkenness. We would earnestly call upon the society, in the name of benevolence and consistency, to petition the Queen against the late Repeal ; and, also, to solicit the influence of the Aboriginal Protection Society, and the British aud Foreign Temperance Society in behalf of onr Meihorial to Her Majesty. And when the Society have thus acquitted them

selves of an imperative duty—they may safely leave the result in the hands of the Great Ruler of Rulers, humbly praying, and confidently trusting, that Hu in His wisdom will prevent such an awful calamity befalling the country of our adoption. During the past year vour Committee have not been largely successful in gaining strength ■' to your Society. We hove from time to time < xperienced [much opposition—and often more trom the professed fc iendaf of Temperance, than even from drunkards themselves—still, however, we have constantly kept up our little meetings and altho’ we cannot boast of" the ability of some of our advocates, we can at-least congratulate the Society upon having Members of earnest sincerity iu the cause. In the month of October last yottr Committee resolved to reduce the monthly subscriptions o£ members from Is. to 6d, This rule "was adopted in order that none might be debarred from becoming members who were unable to subscribe largely to the funds. We were inclined to do away with all pecuniary condition of Membership, hut as the Society is still responsible for the pa ment of tbe Land upon which the Hall stands —we deemed it prudent to continue to receives a small monthly subscription from the members of the Society until the b&ilding which we occupy shall be free from all demands. Your Society, withal, has not, during the past year numbered more than Eighty members. From time to time we have been gaining small accessions to onr ranks—and among the latest wo have much gratification in noticing several indis vidnals who had been among the warmest sup« porters of the Society at its formation, but who, since then, had withdrawn from our force—their entering our lists again, is certain proof that having tried both systems, they have now chosen that which is best.

Your Committee have great pleasure in announcing that they have made a beginning in the formation of a Library for the privelege of Members of the Society. The Works already procured have been carefully selected at home by a gentleman who has been seeking the most useful information on the Total Abstinence principle. The are chiefly written upon subjects connected with the objects of the Society. Such works have been powerful instruments in the promulgation of Temperance at home —and we trust that they will prove no less useful in this country in forwarding the grand purs poses of Total Abstinence, Rule 3 must be drawn'up speedily for their cirenlatoin amongst the members—that the valua >le information which they certainly contain may be profitably disseminated.

With our'eyes on the great chnnges which is going on at home, aud on the inteterest which is awakened so extensively upon ibis great and important subject,—your Committee have to indulge the confident expedition that this vice, which has made so many Nations “ Drunk with its Sorceries . ” is yet to become the vice of comparatively a few, and to he branded with that infamy which it has always deserved; —that the reformation so auspiciously commenced ill our Mother Country will soon be witnessed in tins the most distant part of the British World; and that the time will soon arrive when men’s nnnd* - , in the healthy and vigorous energy of Temperauce, shall be devoted entirely to the pursuits which become immortals ; —be more easily accessible to the instructions of Divine truth, and to those influences of the Spirit of God, which shall prepare them for the holy and happy enjoyments of e’ernity. The following statement will shew the Receipts of the past year, and purposes to which the Cash uas been applied ; Abstract Statement of Receipts and Disbursements of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society, for the year en ding lOdi July, 1844,

Receipts. £ s. & Donations received from Non* Members 10 12 11 Ditto, from Members 3 12 6 Monthly Subscriptions from 8 8 Proceeds of Sale of ** Lines written for dpetimg of Hall,” 0 5 6 Proceeds of Benefit at Theatre 0 8 0 Proceeds of Tea Party of Oct. 11,1843...,. 2 12 1 Ditto, of July 10, 1844, .... 3 4 11 £26 4 2 Expences. cf. S. tfo By Cash for Timber, Callage and Nails, . 10 15 10 Labour, 1 12 0 Glass, 1 8 6 Lock, 0 2 0 Candlesticks, Candles, and Bell-ringing, 1 2 11 Advertising, 0 18 «*> Printing, 0 15 0 Balance of Hill’s Account for limber, remaining due from last year, 3 0 0 Books for Library,.......... 0 10 0 Siationary, 0 3 0 Deficiency of Tea Party of January 3, 2 1 7 £22 0 ■0 Cash on hand 3 15 £20 4 ; ifa, John Williamson, \ a Henry White, \