I.O.G.T.

Manawatu Herald, 5 August 1893, Page 3

1.0.G.T.

The Good Templar reunion at, Sandon on Tuesday evening last was a very pronounced success. Invitations had been issued by the Sandon Lodge to the several Lodges in the district, to wit — Bulls. Awah'uri, Oampbelltown, and Foxton-to raeot in Sandon, compare notes, and cheer each other on in the great battle. In responso, members from all the lodges mustered in strong force. Shortly after 8 o'clock the staid inhabitants of Foxton, who with just the slightest infusion of good old solid topers are mostly of the moderate persuasion, were astonished to see a procession of about 50 members of the local lodge, headed by the Foxton Brass Band and wearing the regalia of the Order, march to the railway station. Thence they were conveyed to Sandon by special train, " puffing Billy " doing his level best in honour of the travellers and the occasion. On their arrival at the Sandon terminus the visitors were met by the members of the Sandon lodge and escorted in procession to the Public Hall, headed by the Band playing appropriate selections. After doing full justice to an ample supply of "creature comforts" hospitably provided by the Sandon brethren, a torchlight procession, consisting of the repre sentatives of all the lodges and numbering about 150, was formed and marched through the town headed by the Foxton Band and in full regalia, returning again to the Hall in time to commence the entertainment at 7.80. Br. J. Reed, L.D., of Sandon, who was the leading spirit in the affair throughout, opened the proceedings by an excellent and appropriate speech, andiavited the Rev. Br. Grindley, of Foxton, to take the chair. An admirable programme, conlisting of songs, readings, recitations and speeches — all of course, of "the right colour"— was then gone thrdugn in good style by representative members of the various lodges,, and the applause was discriminative as well as free. At the close of the first part of the programme abundant refreshments of a recheroM character were handed round, and, needless to say, were appreciated by the visitors from all parts. . The return tram reached the Foxton station about midnight, and the amiable enthusiasts, tired but happy, dispersed with vigorous cheers "to their respective homes, the band playing " God save the Queen " tn the Main-street at 12.15. The prompters of the reunion are satisfied .jhat much good to the cause will result from this experimental meeting, and we understand that a similar one will shortly be held in Foxton under the auspices of the local lodge.