SIR WILLIAM FOX AT MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 883, 26 September 1881, Page 2

SIR WILLIAM FOX AT MASTERTON.

The Knight of Westhoe appeared on platform of the Town Hall, Masterton, on Saturday evening last, looking hale and hearty as ever, and suggesting the idea of the beginning rather than of the termination of a protracted Parliamentary session.

The genial temperance weather which prevailed on Saturday limited the number of the. audience somewhat, but the local societies were strongly represented, and there was a fair sprinkling of outsiders. W.O.T, Davcy occupied the chair, and was supported on the platform by the Rev James McKee and Mr Powell. A juvenile choir preluded and conoluded the speaking by singing in a very pleasing mauner two temperance melodies. The Chairman, in introducing Sir William Fox, spoke of the improved aspect, of the cause in Masterton. The Good Templar Lodge was flourishing, the Juvenile Tent had a large membership, and the Eooliabite Tent—formed only three months ago-had already more than fifty members. A committee appointed from both orders had arranged for periodical public meetings, and had been fortunate enough to secure the presence of the most able temperance advocate in New Zealand on that occasion.

Sir AVilliam Fox, who was cordially received, then commenced his address by au allusion to the teetotal weather which prevailed. If the Creator, he asked, instead of pouring down stroams of water beneficent to the growing crops, were sending down streams of" Gkilivat," iu what state would their fields be on the morrow? All verdure would be destroyed ! But nature never made a drop of alcohol, and waß not responsible for the evil which was wrought. Saturday nights, however, had their showers of whisky. The Evil One apparently destroyed the blessed influence of the Sabbath by inciting his victims to a special alcoholic indulgence on its eve. The lecturer then gave a brief but animated history of the temperance movement and its origiu. It was fifty years since the first teetotal society was started in England. He trusted that in Now Zealand the adherents to the cause would increase as rapidly as the " conies" on the hlls, conquering all before them. He denied that people generally understood the temperance question. He himself, when he first investigated, it, found himself very ignorant of the facts essential to a right conclusion upou it. In New Zealand a population of only half a million were drinking 13,000,000 of alcoholic liquors per annum, The money paid in this direction would have paid for the construction of all the railways .and. public works. Instead of borrowing •£18,000,000 from England, had they been a sober people they might have borrowed it from themselves, He estimated that the direct and indirect loss of life caused through drinkin New Zealand amounted to 2000 persons killed every year. There were '2OOO drinking shops in the colony, and these killed on an average one each per anuura, Ho attacked the liquor traffic as the leading cause of the evil, Drink in itself was harmless, when keptunder lock and key; the man who supplied it was responsible. He gave his own experiences of life in a " respectable hotel" in an outlying district with a view to show that no house which kept a bar could be ;egavded as a decent house, He concluded by explaining the alterations in the Licensing Act effected during the present session. These were not altogether satisfactory him, The old power under which the public could veto a license was taken away. This power had been inoperative in the past from a defect in the Act which did not provide machinery to give effect to it, but it was one lie I'Ggrottod to lose. He bad, however, contrary to his own anticipations, succeeded in carrying an elective licensing bench, which gave the people power to put on the bench right men'in whom they had confidence. He had also succeeded in reducing the size of licensing districts so that public opinion could be brought to bear directly on any house in which a particular locality took an interest. Nearly 800 elections would shortly take place for local licensing boards, and though objection had beon raised to such a large number of little elections, they would from their number serve to keep the whole of Now Zealand alive on the question, A jolly good, vow was wanted to waken up the people of New Zealand, He did not expect to triumph against the publicans all at onoe. If during tie first year tlioy only saved 20 public houses by the elections, that 20 would be so much gam, and a steppingstone to a further victory. The publicans, though in a "mortal funk," wero very strong and very rich, and they could not all at once prevail against them. (Lnud applause.) Mr D. JloGregor proposed, and Mr W. M. Easthope seconded, a hourly voto of thanks to the leoturor, both mover and seconder speakiii" in high terms of both the lecturer and the lecture, ,md expressing a desire to see Sir William in Jlasterton again at au early date, Tho Chairman, having cndorsod the sentiments of tho mover and seoonder, put the resolution, which was earned by acclamation, Sir Willjam Fox, in acknowledging tho compliment, expressed the pleasure with which he would again visit Masterton. Probably his Maori work would tie his hands for another year, but after that ho expected to have more leisure at hjs disposal, After a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting adjourned.

Shakesphere for the racecourse,—All tho world's a "drag," and men and women on it merely "lunchers."—Fun.

A trip to the Empire City may not only be made pleasurable but profitable, To those who can combine business with pleasure, it must be gratifying to inspect the large stocks of seasonable Drapery and Clothing, such as can be seen only in a vast centr n of population like tho City of Wellington. Visitors from the Wairarapa will find one of tlio largest and best selected at Jrnw Smith's TeArn House,

Tho Spring Fashions this Beason are exceedingly pretty, variod, and chaste. In Ladies' Drw materials. Millinery, Mantles, Ltm, Ribbons, and Scarfs the choico is unusually large and elegant. Visitors to Wellington would do well to pay an early visit to Jams Smith's Tt. Aro House.

The stock of Clothing for Men'", Youths', ut and Boys'wear has been made to special v i >rderfor Tt An Home, All materials have ic-l been carefully selected and all styles judi- it-, ciously chosen. Better value it ts impossible, to obtain. One great speciality of Te Aro - House is fie immense variety of Bogs' aud , v Youths' L'lothinq, Parents, and Giurd : ans ': ] should kuep this fact in mind' when they • visit town, and wend their way to Jam ' Smith's Te Aro House, . •■