IN THE FIELD.

White Ribbon, Volume 21, Issue 246, 18 December 1915, Page 3

IN THE FIELD.

My last notes were written just as 1 was leaving (iisborne for Tokomaru Bay, where we arrived after about five hours’ steam on the Monowai—Auckland bound. It was < t*r tainly a novel sensation to be put into a basket, slung up on a c rane like a bale of goods, being finally deposited upon the deck of the launch, which, if there is any sea on, is bobbing up and down like* a cockle* shell. On the whole, though, in calm weather, it is preferable to the method .it (iisborne roadstead, where you walk down the gangway, and when you reach the bottom are told to wait, and you hang suspended while the launch descends into the trough of a wave, and when she rises seize the critical moment and wildly precipitate your self into the arms of a waiting sailor. 11l very rough weather tin* steamers do not call at either port, and the passengers are carried on, hut, h appily, such was not my experience. Tokomaru is a most charming spot, the deep blue waters of the Bay ba< ked by hills of an exceptionally vivid green, the cliffs at either end curving around protecting!)*. I never wearied of feasting my eyes upon the scene from my window at the Mission House, where 1 spent a happy week w.th Miss Davies, who is in charge* of the Church of England Maori work there. Tokomaru Bay has the name of being a most drunken j lac e, but a very strong temperance sentiment exists among the women, and, contrary to expectation, 1 organised a strong branch. The chief difficulty was a geographical one, lhe population being situated at the extreme ends of the bay, with a stieidi of something like two miles between. Howevei. we held a meeting at one end on tin* Mondav afternoon, and enrolled seve ral members, and on the Tuesday traps and motors were kindly placed at our disposal, so that most of the members were conveyed to the other end for the second meeting, where we organised. Miss Davies was already a member of the Napier Union, so she was elected President, with a Vice President, Corresponding Secietary and Treasurer at her end, and a Vice-President, Secretary, and assistant-Treasurer at the Freezing works end. The membership rca< lied 20 before I left, and the new branch had decided to take up Cradle

Roll work, and .1 joint committee of White Ribboners and gentlemen was set up to immediately inaugurate a Hand of Hope or L.T.L. v)n the Sundav I oke io the Pakeha Sunday School in the English C hurt h, and one morning to a I ug<* gathering of native children in the Mission Room. 1 (ailed on Airs Fa rleigh, President of the native branch, but was unable to have a meeting with them, but the Pakena l non should be a great help to them, espe. idly as the President is so thorough!) in tom h with the Maori population. Upon returning to Gisborne, 1 found various patriotic functions so absorbing the attention of the public that no work was possible either there or Te Karaka, so the telegraph was set in motion, and I sailed from Gisborne in the Paloona on Sunday (November 14th), arriving at Hastings the next morning in semi-tropical heat. Several days were spent in visiting, and I attended the Napier monthly meeting, and ran into town on Saturday to see Mrs Oldham, who, though much better for her long stay in Queensland, is still very frail. On Friday, November 2(»th, »he Hastings friends goi up a social gathering m the Y.M.C.A., which was well attended, several new members being initiated, and the following Monday 1 travelled to Masierton, once more finding a happy home with my old friend Mrs Purton, and her family. The following I uesday (December 7th) the Union held their last meeting for the year, at which the attendance was very fine. Officers and superintendents of departments were elected, and delegates for Convention, while several other items of business were transai ted. M. S. POWELL, IRtminiou < irganiser.