WAIRARARAPA GOSPEL TEMPERANCE UNION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2488, 22 December 1886, Page 2

WAIRARARAPA GOSPEL TEMPERANCE UNION.

A'meeting of the union was hold last evening fo commemorato the re-opening of the-Hall after the extensive additions which it has recently , undergone. The edifice was mosh tastefully decorated for the occasion with evergreons, The Salvation Army band inarched from the 1 Temperance. Hall through -some of the principal streets of the town, headed by .some, of tho leading Templars and followed by the members of the Army, and returned again to the building which was crowded to excess, fresh soats having to bo provider!, and even then numbers ot people having to stand during the evening. Mr Duncan McGregor introduced Mr fi. S, Hawkins to. the audience explaining that it was at great inconvenience he had come at this busy time of the year to preside over their meeting, but it showed' his deep sympathy with their causo.

..Mr Hawkins- thanked Mr McGrepor for his kind speech, Ho was always pleased tb work for the cause which they had at heart. As they had a long programme before thorn lie would announce the first item, a hymn by the Choir. The Rev, Mr Fulton then asked for a blessing on their building, .which had been erected under such favorable auspices,. . .

•A trio was rendered by Mesdames Beere and Blaber and Miss Gapper, accompanied by Mr Fulton on the violin. This was the Rov. gentleman's firet debut asi violin player, and' he certainly-sur ; prised the audience by his musical ability. ' The Chairman then rase and gave an address, which was applauded through*

•nit. lh-suiil. tlu-y .ad nnu, tli'To tli.it evi'iiii.g tn o| on ut building, wliicli was nt.iflc fur t!m uiouMny tngcth t (if all (lotioiiun;itiinis of reli»itin fur'the gwid all moil. Ho I'spnuinlly ri-gretted that lu* did not see a representative of the Cliurch of England,..'presentlat .the. gatlieriug. (Hear! bear]); This Was-' the Church* of hju fathers, Wd'the Church he venerated, and yet it was tlie ■ only one not assisting in the good cause. of rescuing'-the drunkard;' "He drew a'-picfifte of..'the teaching in the schools of the present day.. They orammed;kribwledge into the heaas of the children in these schools, but. nothing was done to'mould their minds to a state of purity. He considered that thpy should attract children to their gatherings to : endeavor to teach them that there were higher things to look to than to be a successful uian or woman in this life, which seemed to bo the only thing which was instilled'into the minds of the coming generation! Success, it did not matter how attained, soemed to be the aim and object of their lives. A man might be a thief, a liar, and everything else that'was bad, but if he was successful he was. looked up to by all. He considered that a man who had not purity of mind was not equal to the poorest on earth, even if he were an Undor-Secrotary, or evon ; a MajorGeneral. (Laughter). The speaker concluded'by saying that thev were only a small body at present, but. if 'their efforts were united they could mould the coming | generation as they grew, and make them a blessing to the colony. (Applause).:

A solo by Mrs Beere followed, which was well received. A violin solo was next reudered by Mr Mackay, accompanied on the piano by Miss Graham, and was loudly applauded. Mrs Blaber delivered a sploudid recitation entitled "Christmas Bolls" (applause,) Misß McKenzie followed with a Temperance song "I love pure water," which ,was also well received..

The Rev. D. Fulton addressing the .meeting said ho had g'feat • pleasure iir being present at' the great inaugural oponing of thoir now Hall. He was clad that so many were there to show their sympathy with tho cause. He regretted with fhe President that there was no representative of the Ohuroh ot England present, but said that in England the Episcopalian clergymen were leaders iu the Temperance cause, He had to apologise for the absence of the Rev. Mr Buttlo, who was absent in Wellington. He would say to the workers" work," for the cause was a good one, on which they were engaged strengthening the weak, and rescuing the perishing. He looked forward to a timo when a total abolition of drink traffic would take place. ' Ho expressed his gratitude to Mr Hawkins for having come so far to preside at tho meeting, (applause.)

: Mrs Kibblewhite then favored the audience with a song, "Oh come like I beautiful dream," which, was received with plaudits. A bass solo, by Mr Betty, followed; which was-well received.

, Mr Duncan McGregor then spoke, recalling temperance meotings eighteen years ago. The few meetings of those days had now become a thousand. He thought they should get Sir W, Fox and Mr Glover to come ; to Mssterton. (Applause.) He also thought if tlioy could Set temporance politicians,, in time the rink traffic would entirely disappear. (Applause.) The Choir sang Mi anthem, assisted by Messfs Tiemey and Mackay (violin and cornet). . Captain Wilkinson, of the Salvation Army, thon made a stirring appeal for the tonipemnco cauao. Song, MissPelling (applauded). Instrumental music, Scotch airs, by Rev. Mr Fulton, Mr Mackay and Miss Graham (loudly ourored). • Song Miss Gap'per (Applause.) • • Mr Graham expressed a hope that some among the audience would sign the pledge that night and that at future meetings the musical residents of the town would come forward and help them. Votes of thanks to tho choiraud all who lmd. insisted during the evening were then carried by acclamation' on the motion ef Mr B. P. Perry, and a similar vote was accorded on the motion of Mr Feist to the Presbyterian, Wesleyan and Salvation Army Trustees for tho free uso of their buildings for tho muotings of the union.

The National Anthem ended the proceedings. The piano used on this occassion was a new model Mignion kiudly lent by the local agents, Messra Jas. Brown and Co.