IN THE FIELD.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 242, 18 August 1915, Page 8

IN THE FIELD.

On Thursday morning, July Bth, I finished visiting around Belfast, and the same afternoon the ordinary meeting was held in the Church of Kngland Schoolroom, a venerable building, the first Anglican Church erected in Canterbury. There was a fine attendance, and I had the pleasure of pinning the White bow upon ten new members, two of whom had joined at the previous meeting 1 went straight from the meeting to the train for Oxford; being the guest of Mrs Waterman. White ribboners always expect a good time at Oxford, and I was not disappointed. Five or six of the dear people met me at the station, and the following day the meetings—postponed from the previous week on account of my indisposition— took place. The afternoon meeting was small, but the Y’s must have put in a great deal of energy in making known the talk on “Girls and their lovers” at night. The audience was good, and the capable young President, Miss Watson, took the chair. Scarlet fever had previously prevented meetings at Sheffield, but as the epidemic had apparently worn itself out, I travelled on Monday, 12th, to the home of Mrs Mcllwraith, the president, at Annat, only to learn, upon arrival, that another patient had been taken to Bottle Lake Hospital, and the fear of infection was preventing meetings. So there was nothing left but to return to Kaiapoi, pack up my belongings, and take the boat for Wellington, feeling that f hough every Union in the South Island had not had a visit they had all had the offer of one.

A delightfully calm trip across the straits landed me at Wellington to find the wharf white with frost, and a sailor stationed at the foot of the gangway to warn passengers of the slipperiness of the bottom section. My home of old-—Mrs Denton’s — was thrown open to me as headquarters while in the city. Lower Hutt was the first sphere of action, but the rain commenced while I was on my wav there on Monday, and kept up (accompanied by fierce gales) for close on three days. This seriously interfered with the visiting, so that the meeting on the Friday was very poor ly attended. However, Mrs Koutley was elected President, two new members were initiated, and the L'nion voted over five pounds for the pur-

chase of a bolt of Jute-Hessian. This was speedily cut-up into a hundred and twenty sand-bags for the front and distributed around, a number of members and outsiders taking them to make-

After this I put in several days canvassing with the six-o’clock-closing petition, and on Friday (30th) went on to Masterton, where Mrs Marley gave me a kindly welcome. A few more days with the petition, and on August 3rd the ordinary meeting took place; there being a very fine attendance. On the Thursday morning I took train for Pahiatua at 11.30, and the same afternoon we celebrated T. E. Taylor Day with a meeting in the Presbyterian Schoolroom. A number of members were on the sick list, but several outsiders were present; two of whom joined the I'nion. At 8.40 I took train for Palmerston, arriving there at 11 p.m., after a long day.

M. S. POWELL

Miss Powell’s address until August 28th will be care of Mis Whincop, Greytown, Wairarapa- afterwards care Miss Denton, Fern Hill, Wellington