VISIT OF MR. W. E. TURNER.

Waikato Times, Volume VIII, Issue 489, 8 July 1875, Page 3

VISIT OF MR. W. E. TURNER.

Mr. W. E. Turner, a leading barrister of California, a member of the State Legislature, and a supreme officer of one of the principal Good Templar lodges in America, arrived in Hamilton per Messrs. Quick's coach last evening. On aligbtingVhe was met and welcomed by the members of the Mope of Waikato lodge, [. O.fx. T., in a body, and Having been conducted to the office of Messrs. Madden and O'Neil, solicitors, Mr. Madden, after a few rarefatory observationt presented the following address :—: — To William Evans Turner, Esq.,* Barrister at Law, member of the Legislature bf California, and # W. C. T. of the Independent Order of Goqcl Templars. Dear S^r and Brother, At a/meeting of the Hope of Waikato Lodge, I. O. G. T., holden at Hamilton East, on Thursday July Ist, 1875, a Committee was appointed to meet and welcome you on your arrival in this township. We are aware of the distinguished and influential position which you hold in America, of your earnest and persevering efforts in the cause of Go&d Templary, and of the high abilities and attainments which you have So unselfishly exhibited in the furtherance of temperance. We have also observed with much .pleasure that your visit to Auckland has been beneficial to the cause, and has awakened a more general and lively irCterest in the spread of the great Eeform Movement in which we are all engaged. We sincerely hope and believe that your visit to Hamilton, with whose early history and struggles you were identified, will likewise conduce to the furtherance of Total Abstinence principles, the increased influence and numbers of our Noble Order, and the fostering of feelings of mutual good-will and forbearance in the community. We cordinlly welcome you to Hamilton, regretting that your stay is necessarily brief, and thank you for the sacrifice you have made in visiting a place so far removed from the

city of Auckland. We feel sure that on your departure from Hamilton, you will carry with you warm and sincere wishes for your future welfare, and for the success of your efforts in tKe good cause. Signed on behalf of the Hope of Waikato Lodge, I. 0. G. T. E. C. Madden, Act. W. C. T. Hamilton, July 7th, 1875.

Mr. Turner said : — Brother Madden, sisters and brothers, of course it is always a matter of gratification to us who are engaged in this work, to receive evidences of sympathy in the cause of temperance. The position which I hold in the Legislature of California to-day, I owe to the Good Templars. I was elected upon that issue, after one of the hardest fought battles on the ballot box t^uit has ever been witnessed in California. I havK endeavoured to assist to the best of my <?bititjNin furthering the great temp erance cause, a«H JvWt that I owed it to Hamilton to visit it before^ I leftNew Zealand to return to California. I felt x that something might be said or done to help the cause up here, and that if it were possible for me to visit this place, it would be my duty to come, especially as I the man who built the first public-house here. I can assure you that I sincerely thank you or this address, and when I return to California, among the Good Templars there, the Hope of Waiato Lodge shall not oaforgottfcij. I may state tate that r^N^ff t^tli^Brdaklyn Lodge, one of the largest anci|moßfc^rttiuem^al Ibdges in the State of Allameny. \,~ v *" At half past seven o'clock the members of the Hope of Waikato Lodge, and a large number of the general public assemble"! in the Court-house, kindly granted for the occasion by Mr Searancke, R. M. The Court-room was crowded, many being unable to obtain seats. Mr C. 0. Montrose occupied the chair. x^V *^ Mr W. E.^£fhin«^herfr^|iyeT,§cl a most eloquent and forcible l^etm•e^)n tne sTrw^ct of temperance. He related the prbgressof the movementin America, and gave a most graphic description of the scenes at the election contests in various parts of California, in which the temperance question formed so important an element. The address was listened to with marked attention a\l frequently applauded. At the conclusion, Mr Kbiiriedv* qWie a few remarks in defenc^of'njC^rateSdr\king, followed by Mr Gray, of AVxamirar- \ \ Mr Maddely titenHEturned a vote of thanks to Mr Turner, which was seconded by Mr. John Knox, and carried unanimously. We shall publish a digest of the lecture in our issue of Saturday. Mr. Turner returned to Auckland by this morning's coachj^'Jhid mil l^aye for Clfclifornia by the San Francisco mail on^Friday,