WAIORONGOMAI BAND OF HOPE.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 59, 19 July 1884, Page 2

WAIORONGOMAI BAND OF HOPE.

One of the most successful temperance meetings yet held in Waiorongonui took place Tuesday evening, the 3tii inst., in the new school-house, which was tastefully ilecoruted for the occasion. There must have been considerably over 250 persons present, numbers putting in an appearance from Ta Aroha,, the Hill, and all t.e .surrounding districts. In fact tue

meeting was quite an important one, and would convince the most sceptical that the temperance workers wave not la' « hv« I in vain, and that ttie t< inppntnc" cause has tnlcen strong hold in ttiis p rt of t')p colony. We were not surpri ed to hear the Rev. Mr xMelntoeh (P esbyterian Minister), who presided, express himself as being quite astonished at seeing so large and influential a meeting gathered together in the canse of temperance in so young a township! The Chairman, aftpr opening the meeting in tie usual manner, gave an interesting and instructive address, in which he dwelt upon the evils brought about through drink, and especially referred to fcho duty of helping otners to abstain l»y personal example and encouragement, and concluded by tolling of some instances that had come under his own immediate observation oF victims to strong drink who had been rescue I. He d d not for a moment pretend to say— becoming a teetotaller converted the heart, or make one a child of God, but asked everyone to consider for a moment the good done socially and apart from the spiritual aspect of the question altogether. The following was the programme : Reading, "The one-legged goose," Mr Lovell ; recitation, " Where are the 10, ' JVliss M. Hill ; song, " I shall never make a gentleman oF you John," Mr T. H. England ; recitation, " Johnny Crone," Master Tonge ; reading, ' The monstrous vat," Mrs ftea I ; song, " Don't marry a man if he drinks," Mr Vause ; recitation, Miss Donkin ; song, " Old alcohol," Mi Hirst ; recitation, " To be sold by auction," Master Joy ; dialogue, " How to cure a bad appetite," a doctor advisiug a patient to leave off beer, Miss Roue and Mr Lovell ; recitation, "On the Rhine," Mr Purdie ; dialogue, " Which will you give up," Miss Bloomfield and Mr Ashb) ; song, MrThom ; solo, clarionet and organ, Messrs Wright and England; recitation, "The alarm," Mr Hawkins; song, " Beautiful Nell,*' Mr J. Emmettj doiig, " Please give me a penny sir," Hiss E. Hirst ; reading, " Lines on the Waiorongomai Band of Hope," composed by Mr Roue, Mr Lovell ; reading, "The moderate drinker," Mr Ilott. Every piece was really good, and -the whole entertainment of exceptional excellence, we might mention as special attractions both dialogues, the songs by Mr Vause and Miss Ethel Hirst, and the clarionet and organ solo. At the close of the meeting several new members were enrolled. Every one appeared greatly pleased with the enjoyable evening spent.