MR MATTHEW BURNETT'S MISSION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2344, 12 July 1886, Page 2

MR MATTHEW BURNETT'S MISSION.

Saturday saw the close of the Temperance Mission of Mr Burnett in Masterton. On that occasion the Committee put forth an extra effort to make the last moeting not the least of the series. A. procession :'of Good Templars, Kechabites, Blueßibbonites, and Temperance persons generally paraded Queen-street in the evening, headed by th# Salvation Army Band, Outside the Theatre Mr Pearson's Brass Band, consisting of a dozen instruments, took up the playing as ;soun as the procession broke, and the building was speedily filled. The Chair was taken by Mr B. P. Perry. His voice could not be heard except by those on the platform and immediately in front. It was net altogether his fault,. The shuffling of feet and the noise made by the people flocking in drowned his voice, and, at his' address was not a short one, the consequence was the people got impatient. When, however, the audience was made

oognknt that the chairman had expressed his determination to "don the Blue" as an example and inducement to follow suit, the' shooting became immense; The meeting was addressed by tho'Rev.'D. Fulton, who was followed by the Rey Mr Buttle and "Lieutenant" Bishop, of the Salvation" Army. Mr John Graham came forward amidst cheersj and at the conclusion of a neat little speech presented to Mr Burnett on behalf of the Committee, a gift offering as a slight expression «f their appreciation of the Borvices rendered to tho cause of Temperance by tho Lecturer, Mr Burnett on rising was loudly cheered, He returned thanks to all who had assisted him in his work, collectively and individually., Ho took the opportunity to rofer to a letter that had been been written to a local jiapor, and published that day. Tho writer. aßked that thenamoof tho place and pferson who kept the hotel, and allowed him the uso of a billiard room in which to hold a Tempeiance mooting might be given. He might state, by the way, that it was the dining room not the billiard room he said was placed at his disposal,He had, after reading that letter, looked through his papers, and had found a leaflot in connection with the time referred to, when he was working in Otago, By that paper he saw reportod that "On Juno 3rd, 1885, Mr Burnett spoke at the Hotol, Kingston, after which nearly all donned the blue and many signed the pledge." This was what ho had 'said at the proceeding meeting, speakiug from memory. (Cheers,) Should anyone desire further confirmation that his statements were true he particularly begged of Mr Buttle that he would write or they could write thomselves direct to Ida Valley. (Cheers.) The other place that he had referred to was called Tinkers. He spoke by request in the billiard room. The subject was the prodigal son, just what he, speaking from .memory had told them the previous evening. (Cheers.) Fifty signed the pledge, and sixty donned the blue ribbon. He nad only spokon of that particular instance' in following up the remarks of the chairmau, who had referred to publicans. If the writer of the letter had any question to ask, or anyone else, bearing directly upon temperance, it would lus privilege to do so; and ho (Mr Burnett) would have much pleasure in answering it (cheers). .He then, having got through all the preliminary work, gave thorn the lecture advertised, namely, "Yankee Bill." He. wound up by making an earnest appeal to all who had not done so, to come forward and take the pledge, qnoting the example of their chairman of that evening as an inducement. He wantod tho number to roach 500, and it was not far short, for when the meeting had closed there were only sixteen names required." On leaving the Theatre, soon after ten o'clock, the Salvation Army "fell in," and under the oommand of Lieutenant Bishop, they marched with flags flying and music playing to the Barracks, whure a coffee supper was provided, and partakon of by about a hundred persons. Mr Burnett there addressed the meeting, ai?d thanked theor for the help thoy had been to him during the week. He regretted he had been unablo to give them an evening entirely. He left after a hearty " volley", had been fired, and reached his abode about midnight. On Sunday morning Mr Burnett was preaching to a crowded chureh at Carterton, and had two othor districts to visit before his labors on tho "Day of Rest" would be concluded.

There is just a probability that Mr Burnett may at tho end of his visit to South Wairarapa, put in Saturday and Sunday in Mastorton, before leaving for Wellington, where, he has ten days work before him. He will continue his journeys until he completes the tour of tho North Island, which will probably be about next Christum