THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT IN CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 555, 16 September 1869, Page 2

THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT IN CHARLESTON.

(from a cohrespoxdext.) The Temperance Movement has been introduced to the inhabitants of Charleston, by Mr Dale of Grey mouth. His first meeting was held on Wednesday, the Bth instant. Mr Scott was voted to the chair, and, after a few appropriate remarks, he introduced the lecturer, who was received with applause. Mr Dale gave a great many general and local statistics in substantiation of his arguments. He said that there were in the Colony 50,000 houses, 5,000 of which were tents. 259S were engaged in the liquor trade, or one for every twenty houses in New Zealand, the proportion beinp; far greater in Charleston. This trade absorbed £1,000,000, or £Q 10s for every man, woman, and child in the Colony for twelve months, while the entire taxation amounted only to £G per head. Engaged in the trade there arc 2,5t>3 publicans, and 600 bar-maids in the Colony. In the Charleston district there were about 70 public-houses or licensed liquor shops to a population of 2000, and there was about £50,0(J0 annually spent here in grog. He suggested that, instead of people spending their money in grog, thev might appropriate it in the following manner : —£20,000 for a water supplv, £5,000 for roads, £SOO for tracks, £5,000 for harbor improvements, for public schools £I,OOO, for schoolmasters £IOOO, hospital £:]0,)0, other charities £2OOO, building 100 houses, and £3OO for engine and stamper for use of the public. This could be done were they to stop the consumption of grog for one twelvemonths, and, it would give employment to double the number of persons engaged in the liquor trade Mr Dale gave many medical, political, and Friendly Societies' statistics in further illustration of hia subject. The meeting was well attended. The Herald says —" It was so crowded that our reporter was unable to gain admission." After one hour and-a-lnlf's interesting discourse, the lecturer resumed his seat amid hearty applause, after which a vote of thanks was proposed to him by the Rev. Mr Thomas Plavell, seconded. by Mr Kcenan, which was cheerfully responded to by all. Then the pledgebook was presented, and many signed, and it was arranged for a committee to be appointed to establish the temperance cause in Charleston. Mr Dale delivered another interesting lecture on the same subject, in the Assembly Eooms, on Thursday evening. The hall was crowded by a very attentive audience ; a committee was formed to carry out the principles advocated by the lecturer ; and a resolution was proposed and carried unanimously—" That in the opinion of this meeting total abstinence (?) is best adapted to the requirements of the inhabitants of Charleston." The lecturer invited discussion on any remarks that might have fallen from him. There was but one question asked by a miner—" What is to be done with the bar-maids if we all sign the pledge ?" " Let them get husbands " was the humorous answer given by the lecturer. My mining friend replied, " Bight!" At this meeting also a largo number signed the pledge.