AUCKLAND TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING. Auckland, October 10.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 307, 13 October 1888, Page 4

AUCKLAND TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY. ANNUAL MEETING. Auckland, October 10.

The forty-sixth animal meeting- of the Auckland Toral Abstinence Society was held in the Temperance Hall last evening, the President, Mr E. Tiemain, occupying the chair. The attendance was very small, and was remaiked on by all the speakers. As apaitial explanation it was mentioned that the tea meeting always held in connection with the annual meeting was to be held on Saturday evening. The Secretary being absent, Mr D. Goldie, M.H.K., read the report, which stated that for many years the society had been the sole champions of total abstinence in Auckland, if asked what had been the ie»ults of their labours, they might reply that they had assisted materially in educating public opinion, they had as&isted kindled societies, and lastly, by the economic use of their finance, they had now a fund provided for the erection of a new building. Thanks were due to those who had assisted at the Saturday night entertainments, which had been very successful, though regret was ex pressed that there was such a craving lor amusement. The ieport closed with veiy particular reference to the progress the cause of total abstinence had made during the 56 years it had been in existence. It was mentioned that in this colony there was hardly a village in which &ome kind of temperance woik ib not earned on, and the hope was expiessed that New Zealand would one day, by a united otloit, break its bonds and lice itseli from " the drink monster, which like a mighty evil genius broods over us, filling our prison^, hospitals, asylums, bankruptcy coiuts, and e%cn our iiiesides with its victims." The Chairman expressed regret that no mention had been made in the lepoit to the valuable assistance given the cause by the press in publishing repoits of the meeting, etc. The balance - sheet was read by the Treaoiner, Mr Cherry, and showed that there was a balance in hand of A.26 Os 3d. The receipts from rent and subscription, etc., amounted to Cll7 17s lid, winch, with a balance of £16 6s 4d tiom lah>t ytar, totalled CIM 4s 3d. The items ot expenditure were : — Rates, in&urancw, repair.-*, etc., £521854 d; gas, £20 8s; adveitihing, C 6 10s 6d ; sundries, £18 7s 2d ; renewal fund, £10; balance in hand, £26 0s 3d ; total, £134 4s 3d. In reply to Mr Golclie, the Treasurer stated that the Society now had C2OO available tor the erection ot a new building. The adoption of tho report and balance sheet was moved by Mr Goldie, M. H.R., who claimed that greatc-r advance had been made by the temperance movementm Auckland than in any other city in the colony. They might thank the temperance workeis in the early days of the Provincial Councils for this, for they had put a stop to bottle licenses, tie made a comparison betw een the drink traffic in New Zealand and in New South Wales and Victoria, the comparison being very favourable to this colony, where it only amounts to £3 2s 6d per head per annum. Regarding the Saturday nig-ht entertainments he thought they should make a charge of a penny for adults and a half - penny for children, the money &o obtained to be devoted to righting the annual contests at the Licensing Committee elections. Mr Joseph Robinson seconded the motion in a long speech, in which he made reference to the good done by the Society, and urged thai, tbey should increase their efforts. Referring to the Saturday night entertainments, he thought that more temperance education should be given. In explanation the Chairman said that efforts were made at all these entertainments lo give temperance education. They would have an address by the chairman and by some prominent worker, while the songs, recitations and dialogues constituting the programme often dealt wholly with temperance. The report and balance-sheet were then unanimously adopted. The following officers were then re-elected for the coming year : — President, Mr Tremain ; Vice ■ Presidents, Messrs J. VV. Carr, C. G. Hill ; Secretary, Mr Plummer ; Treasurer, Mr F. Cherry ; Committee, Messrs.]. W. Carr, F. Cherry, H. Deeson, D. Goldie, W. Hampton, C. G. Hill, Fred. Jeune, W. B. Leyland, J. Lye, Peter Mason, G. Plummer, Armstrong Newburn, H. Stokes, J. Robinson, W. Carlaw, and Knight. The meeting then terminated with the usual compliment to the Chairman.