TEMPERANCE MEETING AT PAEROA.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 215, 13 August 1887, Page 3

TEMPERANCE MEETING AT PAEROA.

A puisuc meeting was held List Monday evening at Paeroa for the puipose of instituting a Band of Hope. Considering the unfavorable weather there wa^ a very good attendance. The Rev. S. Lawry presided, and read an apology from Rev. W Kat terns, regretting his inability to be present, and wishing the movement success. Recitations were given by several persons interested in Temperance work, and several suitable hymns were bung by the audience. The Chairman deliverel an address on " The Evils of Intemperance : their Cause and Cure. " He showed that intemperance was an economic evil, invohing thi3 Colony in an annual loss, directly and indirectly, of nearly 5 millions sterling, being the largest factor inthepievaiiing depression. It was also shown to be a social evil, a physical evil, and a moral evil, being a fiuitful source of wretchedness, disease, and degradation. The one cause of intemperance the speaker contended was, drinking intoxicating liquor', and drinking was induced by ignoiance, legal sanction, bad example, depraved tastes, and force of custom. The only adequate remedy, in the judgement of the speaker was abstinence. Other remedies had been tried and failed : But every one knew that if people abstained from drink there would be no drunkenness, and therefore none of the attendant evils. At the close of the address, on the motion of Mr. W. J. Elliott, it was reeolved that a Society be formed to be called " The Paeroa Band of Hope and Temperance Society. " Between 40 and 50 persons of various ages then enrolled themselves as members by signing tiie usual declaration of total abstinence. It was was announced that further meetings would be held, and that a working committee would be formed to carry on the work of the Society . — [Supplied].