WOODVILLE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3236, 14 November 1881, Page 2

WOODVILLE.

(from our own correspondents.) November 12, 1881.

The members of the Hope of Woodville Tent, 1.0. R., celebrated their third anniversary in the school-room on the 9th instant by a tea, to which over a hundred sat down. Too much praise cannot be awarded to the ladies presided, viz., Mesdames Soury, Hawkins, and Hutchings. I believe the credit also, both for decorating and laying out the tables, which were very tastefully done, is due to them. After the tables were cleared away, Bro. Soury, C.R., took the chair, when the choir sang " Excelsior," which was deservedly applauded, The chairman gave a brief sketch of the progress which the order had made during the years the Hope of Woodville Tent had been in existence, and then called upon Misses Hutchings and Hawkins, who sang " Motherless now," which was fairly suDg. Bro. Hawkins pleased his audience by a sensible and humorous speech abounding in anecdotes, but confining himself to his subject. The choir then rendered with good taste and feeling the " Temperance Life Boat." Bro. Stephen Hutchings then addressed the meeting, and dilated largely on the strides that the Good Templars had made, aod urged every one present to support as far as possible the good cause. Bro. Gr. Smith, juDr., addressed the meeting, and Bro. S. Hutchings sang " Floating on the Wind." Bros. Pinfold and Morden spoke to the point, the latter gentleman being loudly applauded. The choir rendered "Men of Britain" very well. Rev. Bro. Robertshaw read an amusing piece from Browning, "The Piper of Hanglin," which quite took the audience. Mrs Moore's "Give me a penny, Sir," was well received. Bro. Richards, after addressing the meeting, proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies who had assisted at the tea, and also to the members of the choir. This was seconded by Bro. Rendall, and carried by acclamation. Bro. Rental! then recited the " Drunkard's Idiot Son." Bro. Crawford then spoke, and after going slightly into statistics, finished by stating that if the people in New Zealand would abstain from drink for a week the sum thus saved would be sufficient to construct the railway from Makatoku to Woodville. Rev. Bro. Eobertshaw rei turned thanks for the ladies, and Bro. S. Hutchings for the choir. After a voteof thanks had been accorded to the chairman, the choir gave a temperance anthem, followed by the National Anthem, which closed a most enjoyable evening.