Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus in jurare verba magistri. MONDAY, MARCH 28 1870.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 773, 28 March 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus in jurare verba magistri. MONDAY, MARCH 28 1870.

;The temperance movement appears jto be about to commence a new and more vigorous stage ot progress. The friends of the cause in some of the other provinces, both north and south, have taken the matter in hand, and though noi amongst the fore|most, we are glad to find that those | of Hawke's Bay do not intend to allow themselves to be left altogether behind in the race. Our advertising columns show that a meeting of all interested in the matter is arranged to be held to-morrow evening, when we trust to see a full attendance, and that measures will be adopted for the establishment of a new society upon a permanent basis. The importance of a well-regulated Total Abstinence Society to any community in which it has been established cannot be over-rated. We can speak from experience of such in the old country, and we can testify that where regular periodical meetings are held, penny readings and lectures given, very many are held ; to their good resolution* by the feeling of sympathy they have with their fellow-members, and the vital principle -which is thus imparted to their practice, who, without such aid, would be found to tall before repeated temptation. In this, as in other things, it is most true that ' ; union is strength," and when men find that the leaders of the movement are in earnest, they are more likely to join with and follow them. Several spasmodic attempts have at various times been made in this province to establish such a society, and some of these did at first promise much } but we believe the main cause of failure has been the want of an organisation for the keeping alive of the interest of those who at the first subscribed their names. Perhaps it was not then possible to provide sufficient variety of talent to maintain a weekly or fortnightly meeting. We believe that the case is different now. The population has increased, and there are many young men amongst us whose abilities could not find a more fitting or worthy arena for their development than is afford ed by the temperance platform—as almost every department pf popular science may be biought to bear upon the central point of the total abstinence question. We have known it to stimulate youth to the of, physiology, chemistry, political and

social economy, ancient and modern hisfcor}*, criticism, &c, who, but for that stimulus, might never have had their minds directed towards these studies. We know that it has proved a mighty educational agent in Europe and America, and we believe we shall see it act as such amoiigst us.