IN THE FIELD.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 273, 18 March 1918, Page 4

IN THE FIELD.

Wednesday, February Bth, w.,s speat at Bluff, in visiting as many White Ribboners as could be reached, arrangements being made tor a special meeting of a social character later on. On 12th 1 had the revisiting the rear gill Bran<h, which 1 organised jus about three years ago. Then the membership stood at about a dozen ; to day it totals (>s, about 50 of whom are regular attendants and workers. WasnN it refreshing to see such a splendid gathering! and one tine* feature was that almost all the absent members sent apologies, showing their interest. Another item which pleased me was that last year 10s had been expended upon a Purity Library. Thursday, 14th, found me at Tuatapere, having crawled up on a funereal train on a bitterly cold morning, arriving jus* about frozen, and being met by Miss Harrison and driven out to their home in the bush. Tuataj>c»re Branch has, like most othe rs, suffered by removals and const ription, but the' few faithful souls, unde r Mis Harrison’s leadership, ire bravely holding th for. We had an evening meeting, a.id discussed things, and I found they were keeping up their Band of Hope and doing all they can. And their work is telling upon the community. One boy at the Front metvioned the W.C.T.U. in a recent letter, while another sent a message' to the effect th it he is still keeping his pledge. Next morning .Mr Harrison one of our noble band of White Ribbon brothers appeared a the* door with the trap at 545, as 1 had to be back for the meeting at Bluff the same afternoon. This took place in the ii own building (Willard Hall), and there was a fine a tendance of me obers. The Band of Hope- i", ever, an immense success, the* hall usually be ing well hlh‘d w th children and their parents. Of course, an educational address is given at each meeting. They arranged to spend 10s on a purity library, and then a discussion took place upon the' possibility of establishing in one of the front (smaller) rooms a read’ng room, where men could go and read the papers and meet each other, the* Patriotic Society being allowed the use* of the other room free. On all hands, as T travel around, I hear testimonies to the improved conditions since 6 o’clock

closing came into force, hut in the Bluff, at least, .»ome meeting place for the men is now needed. (lore is now holding regular meetings, at the firs* of which for the year I was present. The Onion has been handicapped in various ways, but is now starting off for the woik of 1918 in good heart. I poll arrival from Dunedin 1 found the Invercargill friends were considering organising at Ryal Bush, where we already had three members. Ac - cordingly I travelled there on 2n h, and the nc*xt day mv host, Mr Buxton, motored Mrs Buxton and me around for ten hours straight off. We paid twenty-four calls, announced our mee - ing, engaged the hall, and arrived bac k at dusk, tired, but very well satisfied with our day’s work, twelve women h.-ving signe'd the membership pledge and donned the magic white bow, and four subscribed for he* paper. It was intensely hot, and we had not gone far before we began to peel, and before long there were five coats in the bottom of the' motor. But how should we ge‘ on without the White Ribbon husbands? Next da\ we held a meeting in the' Public Hall, Mrs Bonthron being elected Pres : - dent, and Mrs Buxton undertaking the duties of Secretary in he meantime. As the notice was very short, several of the members were prevented by other engagements from attending, so it was not possible ‘o fill all the offices. By the same evening I returned to Invercargill and the home of our veteran worker, Mrs G. \Y. Brown. Mrs Bonthron is the* daugh ter-in-law of the lady who, with her husband, organised the firs Band of Hope in Invercargill, in the' days when temperance sentiment was so low no church would open its doors to them. The old lady—now well over ninety - resides at Orepuki, and still takes a ke'en interes in all questions affecting the morals of the community. 1 am now orgaivsing for the Dunedin Union as far as is consistent with taking almost daily treatment for the fracture of my wrist, sustained last April, and which, having nevei been set, has lately threatened to be* come useless. However, I hope* te< attend Convention for at least a part of the time. M. S. POWELL.