THE TEMPERANCE MISSION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1407, 20 October 1885, Page 2

THE TEMPERANCE MISSION.

MB BURNETT AT WOODBURY. Woodbury liad been left out of tl)p i>4 of places to be visited by Mr Burnett vKile he was lecturing in the Geraldine district, and when Mr Burnett heard it regretted by many that he was not to s?ive it a call, ho felt it would be an injustice not to do bo ; but it was not until he had got as far as Ashburton, on his way nortb, that he couid sp»re b ' day. Of course, Mr Burnett lookpd for I ajr-iat success from a pp*cial journey so far from his rou'e, and, as (he result proved, be had nothing to regret by r>aying Woodbury a visit. Arriving in Geraldine on Friday last by the express ("rem the north, Mr Burnett was kindly ■net at the staii«>a by Mr A. McKenzie 1 »nd driv-n to Woodbury, where his first address was to the school chi'dren. At this meeting the teacher, Mr Greaves, presided, and at the close of Mr Burnett's interesting address 59 children came forward, signed the pledge, «nd i'ok the b'ue ribbon. At 7 o'clock Mr Burnett addregsed a mass mfeting in the >ppn air in the centre of the township. Mr Waite presided, «nd briefly introduced the lenturer. Mr Burnett bfgan by saying that as it was his last opoortunity of speaking to a South Canterbury audience, he wifehed to give them it's opinion, as ona who was ab'e to speek trom «xperienoe, of th« ooontrjr'

through which he wo* travelling. He. had been Lhr ugh a lnr«o portion of all •ho Australi'ii;, colonies and l'astnama, and he wished to state-, free from nil bias, that the natural scenery of New Zealand, wiili its mountains and rivers and lakes, wan unsurpassed by anything he had previously witnessed. Although New Zealand was now undergoing such * general depression, commercial aad otherwise, he believed, notwithstanding, that she would come out of the cloud tatter than ever with her vast, and as yet undeveloped, resources. He believed that she would ultimately take a foremost position in connection with the Southern Hemisphere. Mr Burnett th<n referred to the dangere of the drinking customs, and, notwithstanding their gradual diminution in the Old Country, a sum of L 125,000,000 had been spent on drink last year—one-filth of which had been contributed by the working classes. Referring to the colonists of Tasmania and New Zealand, Mr Burnett quoted the drink bi'l of each colony, making special reference to that of Mew Zealand. At the present time it stood at close upon L 3,000,000. A great deal had been spoken and written during the last year abouo the general depression through which New Zealand was passing, and he forcibly uo'nted out that if the people throughout the colony would reduce the drink bill, by ceasing to indulge in intoxicants, what a marvellous change would soon be wrought. Mr Burnett then made a powerful appeal to those present to identify themselves fully with the great national work—that of Gospel Temperance—and help to lay the foundation of the nation's future greatness and prosperity in its sobriety and all its attendant blessings. At tho close of the address three cheers were heartily given to the lecturer. The audience then formed into a procession, and marched to the schoolroom, singing a number of popular hymns. At the meeting in th« schoolroom Mr Angus Macdonald occupied the chair, and, after the meeting had been opened by singing and prayer, the Chairman, in a witty and interesting speech, referred to his connection with the movement, and he hoped the Step he had taken, and which he was proud of, would be followed by all present. (Applause.) He then called upon Miss Dunlop, who sang " The little Bow of Blue" in a pleasing munnur, and which received hearty applause, Mr Burnett took for the subject of his address his two real life pictures—" Sieve and Janet" and "Yankee Bill." The address was listened to with manifestations of great pleasure mid interest throughout, and the applause was frequent and hearty. At the close, in response to Mr Burnett's appeal, 48 persons came forward and donned the blue ribbon. Before dispersing, Mr Burnett proposed hearty votes of thanks to the Chairman, Mr und Mrs Greaves, Mrs Dunlop, to the singers, and to the Press. Mr Greaves, in a neat speech, suitably responded. The meeting was then closed with the Benediction. Mr Burnett left on Saturday for Ashburton by the express. The following figures will speak for the success of Mr Burnett's mission to South C*nterbury, and had not previous engagements rendered it impossible for him to speak at several places in the district—such as Orari, Belfield, etc.— no doubt the total number would have been much larger. The number of those who have signed the pledge and took the blue ribbon in Waimate was 200, Timaru 400, Pleasant Point 6, Burke's Pass 23, St. Andrews 33, Otaio 12, Pareora 13, Seaview 44, Temuka and district 232, Geraldine 189, Hilton 44, Woodbury 107—making a total of 13G8, —in addition to which about 50 took the blue ribbon who had already taken the pledge, and a great many family cards were distributed.