DALHOUSIE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 139, 6 October 1870, Page 5

DALHOUSIE.

(From our own Correspondent.) A meeting was held at the Schoolhouse on Thursday, the 29th ult., to form a Total Abstinence Society ; the room was crowded with ladies and gentlemen. Mr. Thomas Leather was elected to the cfiair. He, in a few preliminary remarks, stated what had induced him to call the meeting, viz., the increasing tendency to inebriety of late. He hoped they would excuse him from saying much, as he was unaccustomed to addressing so large an assembly. He then called upon Mr. Matthews, teacher, who, in a neat concise speech, expatiated on the evils of intemperance in all ages, more especially in these colonies since the commencement of the diggings. lie said if a miner got a bad prospect, or had a bad washing; up, he got drunk to keep up his spirits ; and if he had a good washing up he said, " Well I must have a jolly good spree on the strength of it." Therefore, bad or good luck, P.B. was the ultimatum. Some people imagined this meeting was got up on account of the new hotels about to be opened, but he believed no such feeling existed, but for the general we'fare of the coinmunitv.

Mr. Mailler, in a summary manner, said it was a novel situation for him to be in, as until lately he was one of the greatest swipera in the country. He would read an extract from the "British "Workman," entitled "Not one drop more, Daniel," which, he said, illustrated the subject better than any speech he could make. The purport of the above story was that after a man's money is all done, the publican's tap is stopped. He said the last spree he had, he had a touch of the " blues," and he thought that as drinking was a disease, if he had another attack they would have to carry his corpse to Lawrence. Mr. Arbuckle was next called upon. He gave a practical account of his personal experience. He mentioned that drink had been his principal adversary to his success, and had he never indulged he would have stood higher in society. He would recommend every one that had any respect for themselves to join. Ten gentlemen and two ladies put down their names. Mr. Mailler was elected president, and Mr. Leather, secretary. It was agreed to have another meeting on that day fortnight.