W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 69, 22 March 1892, Page 5

W.C.T.U. CONVENTION.

OPENING IN AUCKLAND,

Yesterday afternoon the members of the Auckland branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union gave a formal receptioQ to the Southern delegates who have af*. rived from the other parts of the colony to attend the annual Convention of the Union, 1 which 13 this year being held in Auckland. The Southern delegates are :—Mesdamee Miller, Kirkland and Miss Fulton (Otago).' Mesdames Shepperdson and Richardson (Canterbury), Mrs Tuttle and Miss Kirk (Wellington), and Mrs Troy (Napier). The reception was held in the social hall of the V.M.C.A., Albert-street. Tho president of the Auckland branch (Mrs Schnackauberg) opened the meeting, and after prayor by tho Rev. J. J. Berry, the president oe*«dially welcomed the Southern delegated Short addresses were made by Sir Wm. Fox, Ray. G. D, Cox. Mr Thos. Allen, and tho Rev. J. J. Berry. Mrs Kirkland (Otago) replied on behalf of the Southern delegates, and the meeting concluded with prayer by tho Rev. S. J. Serpell. A number of local clergy and laity were present. The formal business of the convention opened at the V.M.C.A. this morning, and tho meetings will probably last through the week. Those interested in temperance work are invited to be present. On Thursday evening a special public meeting will be hold in connection with the Convention, on the question of the female franchise, and on Friday evening on the subject of " Youngf Women's Work and General Work in Relation to Temperance."

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. This morning ab 9.30 o'clock the businese

proceedings of the Convention were opened in the lecture hall of the V.M.C.A. Rooms. There was a good attendance of delegates, and Mrs Schnackenberg (President of the Auckland branch) was appointed to tha chair in the absence of the President! of the New Zealand Union. There wore present as local delegates Mesdames Holloway, Main, Berry, Daldy, Dewar and Troy, in addition to tboee from the South. Tbe minutes of the last annual convention were read and adopted. The address of tho National President, which contained nothing of general interest, waa read. It was decided to send a letter of sympathy to Mrs Fulton, widow of the late Hon. J. Fulton, M.L.C., and to express their regreb at» her absence from the Convention. Letters of greeting were read from the sister Unions of Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia. Letters of a similar nature were also read from Miss Ackormann (now in Australia), and Miss Willard.of Chicago. It was decided to change the name of the Union from the "National " to the New Zealand Women'sChristianTemperance Union. The Convention approved of a petition ta be presented to the Commissioners and Jady managers of the World's Exhibition to be held at Chicago, asking them to prohibit; the sale of liquor in the fair grounda, during the Exhibition, and also to close, the Exhibition gates on Sundays. Ib wae decided to ask the World's Executive to grant funds towards the relief of Mrs Loavetb. the World's missionary for the W.C.T.U., who was now in pecuniary straits.