IN THE FIELD.

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 258, 18 December 1916, Page 15

IN THE FIELD.

My stay at Katekate, Bay of Plenty, covered thirteen days, every one of which was more or less .vet, while for three consecutive d«»> the deluge continued with hardly half an hour’s intermission. Happily, Mrs Baines h. d talked up the Union so well before m> arrival that little visiting was needed, and on November 15 1 organised wi.h 24 members, and they should do well. Tauranga was to be reached by motor, and 1 watched for that vrn le for just an hour and a quarter, it having got stuck in the mud on the way from Waihi. However, it arrived in due course, -«nd 1 not< d w ith interest that a prominent oniaimn. attached to the side was a strong spade, evidently intended to facilitate the digging-out process. This implement was not, however, requred during my occupancy, though at one stage all the passengers were re quested to alight and plough along up a muddy hill, where the road had been mended with ti-tree. We certainly could not complain of monotony, for upon sundry occasions wc were dung violently up into the air in a manner painfully suggestive of Tom Brown’s blanket-tossed experiences on his first night at school. However, we came down again, and were able to reply in the affirmative to the chauffeur's anxious enquiries as to whether we were “all there.” Tau ranga was reached at last, and a warm welcome to her home was recciv d from the President, Mrs F. X. Christian. This energetic lady had already sent out invitations to 70 wome n to attend at Wesley Hall “to meet Miss Powell.” The gathering was quite a .success, and eight new members were secured. The* l nion had held no meetings for about two years, and had grown discouraged in consequence of having lost so many members by removal. T his difficulty was overcome*, as, before 1 left, we had secured a number of new members. The annual meeting was held on November 22nd, when officers were elected and arrangements made for starting Cradle Roll and L.T.L. work. The following day 1 spoke to the children in the public school, describing the Legion. This concluded the work in Tauranga, but the re was no boat for Opotiki until the following week, while the coach journey was out of the question, being very expensive,

and occupying three days. So I spent a few d »ys w ith my old comrade, Mrs Cha veil. doing a little* visiting, and at 11 pm. on Tuesday c mbarkrd on the* “Xgatiawa.” The ladies’ cabin on the* bttle e raft was immediately over the screw, and when >ve commenced to move 1 oncluded that by morning I should be a candidate for the nearest mental hospital. However, the night was fairly calm, the adaptability of human nature came to the* rescue, and, assisted by the reflection that life is a matter of contrasts, and that to the* boys in the trenches that cabin would have been heaven, I retained my sanity. Opotiki was reached at 5.30 the following morning, and I was welcomed to the home of the* President, Mrs J. T. Thom| son. and on the Friday an Executive meeting was held to arrange .1 programme of meetings. M. S. POWELL, Dominion Organiser. Address for this month : Isca Mt., St. Clair, Duned n.