MR MATTHEW BURNETT AT TE AROHA.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 176, 30 October 1886, Page 2

MR MATTHEW BURNETT AT TE AROHA.

On Tuesday last this well known and icmarkably successful worker in the cause of temperance, arrived at Te Aroba fiom Paeroa. On the preyious evening a crowded meeting was held in the Paeroa Public Hall, and as a result of Mr Burnett's visit to that place we are informed some 60 to 70 persons signed the pledge, amongst them several natives of rank. After reaching Te Aroha Mr Burnett lost no time in visiting the Hot Springs Domain, the several bath-houses, aud drinking fountains, in all of which he appeared to take much interest, and thoroughly enjoyed the luxury of a bath in "No. 6.' There was a fair attendance at the meeting held in the Te Aroha Public Hall in the evening, but as other meetings were being held at the same time in the town, \ which no doubt kept some away Rev. 0. Dean opened the meeting by reading a portion of Scripture and engaging in prayer, and expressed his sympathy with the cause of temperance. Rev. Jas. Marshall kindly acceded to the request that he would act as chairman on the occasion, ani briefly introduced the lecturer, |and stated it gave him great pleasure to meet Mr Burnett who was engaged in a grand and noble work. Mr Burnett first referred to the significance of the name Te Aioha, "love," and remaiked the rebidents should be full of love not ouly to the Great Master but to one another, they had much around them at Te Aroha to make the place famous and to attract tourists from all parts of the world. He was greatly inteiested and pleased with respoet to the wonderful baths, and wheiever he went, would be sure to sing* thoir praises and send many visitors from all parts to avail themselves of the mineral waters ani enjoy the scenery of To Aroha j and he very gieatly regretted being unable to make a longer stay, but engagements entered into would not permit. His labours in the cause of lotal abstinence in New Zealand had resulted in many thousands taking '• the pledge and donning the bit of b'.ue," and he had all the time experienced hoariy co-operation from the dignitaries of the Church of England as well as of the other churches. The work he was engaged in recognised, all classes, creeds, and estates, and had 1 been ably assisted by some of the most intelligent and respected representatives of the Roman Catholic Church ; the speaker here refened in glowing forms to the noble work and most wonderful results which attended the labours of Father Matthew. The lecturer took as the sul'ject of Ins " picture from real life, the late Dr Mitchell, of Birmingham," and in doing so referred to a number of very eminent men Avho first saw the light in that city, amongst them Joseph Sturge, John Angel James, Geo. Dawson, John Bright, etc. Dr Mitchell, the subject of the lecture, was the inventor of the Mitchell pen, and also of some important improvements in railway carriages. He was a man of great talents, but unfortunately at college learned to drink brandy and gamble The doctor rose rapidly to eminence in his profession, and on more than one occasion was at Windsor by royal command Drink, however, continued to gain its ascendancy over him, and he at last went with his wife to young Australia and there began life afresh. His fame and skill was marvellous and within ten years (at the end of which time the speaker first met him, were at Ballarat) he had made, lost, and gambled away £100,000, and became reduced to alimst want ; and was looked upon and spoken of as a hopless case. The lecturer then in a most graphic manner recounted the story of how he managed to induce the doctor to come to one of his meetings, and how he signed the pledge, and afterwards became a humble Christian, soon regained a splenr did practice as a medical man, paid off some £1600 of drink and gambling

debts he had incurred, and became a most ardent supporter of temperance work. The address was listened to with deep interest, and the lecturer closed with an appeal to those present who had not yet dona so to " sign," specially urging upon fathers, mothers, brothers, anJ sisters to do it for the sake of those so dear to them. As a result a number of the audience went forward and took the pledge. Mr Ilott expressed the very great pleasure it afforded him to meet Mr Burnett, respecting whose work so much was recorded in the Press, and on behalf of those present proposed a very hearty vote of thanks to him for coming amongst them and for the very able and most interest lecture he had delivered, and expressed the hope that at no \ery distant date he would again pay Te Aroha a visit. Seconded *" by Rov. O. Dean and carried by acclamation. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chair. Mr Burnett, we may add, holds a high position as a Freemason, ranking *as " Royal Arch," and at the close of" the meeting the Worshipful Master of Te Aroha Lodge, Bro. Geo. Wilson, accompanied by a number of other members of the local lodge and offered their fraternal greeting assuring Bro. Burnett of the deep interest they felt in the work to which he had devoted his life, and infunned him some members of the craft had that night donned the blue ribbon, thereby showing practical sympathy with the cause. In reply, Bro. Burnett heartily thanked them for their kindness, expressed his deep regret at not being able to remain at Te Aiolm long enough to visit the lodge, and stated that he had received nothing but uniform kindness and sympathy from the brotherhood in all his travels, extending over a large part of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. During his recent visit to Auckland the Royal Arch Chapter very courteously assured him of their fraternal greetings, also at Thames. On Wednesday morning Mr Burnett left by train for Rotorua (where he lectured on Thurslay evening), and to fulfil the many appointments already entered into. Mr Burnett takes a deep interest in the Maories, and we observo by our Thames morning contemporary that during his recent visit to the Thames he state J he had " given family pledge cards to 40 head chiefs of tribes, and that 800 single personal cards had likewise been iss-ued to Maoris who had taken the pledge."