RETURN OF SIR WILLIAM FOX.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2156, 27 November 1885, Page 2

RETURN OF SIR WILLIAM FOX.

Sir William anc| Lady Eox arrive 4 by the mail steamer on Saturday morning, The Auckland Herald says :-Sir William has been absent from New Zealand about eighteen months, He did not like the weather in England, although during his stay there it was not considered severe, but on the contrary rather a fine year. Aftertheirlong residence in New Zealand, he and Lady Fox felt the cold winds very keenly, Sir Willaia has beon actively engaged in the temperance movement at home, and has addressed many meetings both in Engliind and Scotland. He visited Sweden recently in of<jer & be present at the grand annual meeting of the Good Templars of the world. At this gathering there were present representatives from all parts of the world, Sir William himself representing South Australia, This Soeiety numbers over 100,000 membeis. Sweden, Sir. William says, is the most advanced country .in tho world on the subject of temperance, particularly in the Good Terngjar Branch. The King of Sweden assisted to make the society. The doings at this meeting will form one of the chief subjects of the address delivered by Sir William at tho" Baptist Tabernacle qn Monday eyening. In passing thrpugh America he made a [ thorough examination into the working of the liquor law in the State of Maine, and is fully convinced that the immense good which has been achieved there by prohibition, as evidenced by the small numbers in the gaols and asylums, He also visited Canada, and was surprised and pleased to see the great advance on this question made in many parts of the Dominion. In the reports of Sir William's addresses published iii the English papers, it appeared that he characterised the local option legislation, or rather its administration, as a failure in .this colony. He based this opinion on the comparatively few public houses which have been closed in New Zealand since the Act came into operar tion, bi}t he mentioned Anckjand and Napier as exception? to the general rule. He regards the results : as being satisfactory in Auckland, and,thinks that more Bhould have been achieved in other parts of the colony. He leaves on Thursday next for Wellington, where he has private business to attend to. Afterwards he may visit Dunedin if they are prepared for a "temperance crusade there. It is likely that-.he may spend the next winter in Auckland, and it is not Improbable tjiat'he jnay settle there, a« the climate, isiiits both 'My Fqx and himself .better' than tW collier' otimpte of

•the.South. It is not his intention fa#' into politics, unless indeed he thinks' ne , may do good to the temperance cause by hisadvocacy in the Legislature.