The Native minister on the Temperance Platform.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 209, 6 September 1886, Page 2

The Native minister on the Temperance Platform.

Wanganui, Saturday, The Nativo Minister supported by the Mayor, presided at Mr Matthew Burnett's temperance meeting last night. The theatre was crowded to excess in every part. Mr Ballance said it was tho first timo he had occupied such a position, but probably it would not bo tho last. He appreciated to tho full tho great wcrk done by Mr Burnett, which bad his heartiest sympathy. Addressing through an official interpreter a large number of native people present, including a dozen or more leading chiefs, who had places on the platform,Mr Ballance romarked that it had been said by Dr. Yon Haast in London that tho native raco would soon bo extinct: but ho folt that tho prophecy need not become truo if only the race gave up drink Ho appealed to tho chiefs and young mon to lend their aid to save their race from destruction. He had absolutely prohibited liquor in the whole of the King Country, but could not do that here, and must depend upon tho natives banding together to help themselves in the matter. He felt so interested in this question that he had given orders for the printing of a large number of temperance cards in Maori to assist them. Mr Burnett then delivered one of his stirring addresses. His mission has been a great success. Omitting last nights SOO pledges, including 250 Maoris, 3,000 pledges have been taken in the week on this coast.