THE SALVATION ARMY.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7873, 26 May 1891, Page 3

THE SALVATION ARMY.

....»■ ..,.„■ GENERAL BOOTH TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. Yesterday was a gala day for the Sal' vationists. Operations commenced at about 1.30 p. m., when the children began to muster in the Square for tbe free tea. Headed by the Stan Band they made their way in pro* cession to the Sydenham Barracks, where tea and cake were served out to them in relays. The public tea began at about 4.30, and was a great success, it being reckoned that fully seven' hundred persons sat down. The meeting afterwards was full of life and enthusiasm, being led by Colonel Bailey in his usual lively and hearty atyle. A feature of the evening was the testimony of Borne of the oldest soldiers of th« Corps, including the first sergeant ever appointed. This was followed by a testimony from one of the youngest recruits. Varioui field officers spoke, also Mrs Colonel Bailey. The Colonel, in the course of an interesting address, made several announce* ments which might be characterised aa startling. Referring to the work in England he said that the corps in London from which he came out bad alono sent Into the field 450 officers, which fact might be taken as a conclusive refutation of the statement that the Army was a failure. Coining to tho work in New Zealand ho said he had been struck in going up and down tho colony by the hold the Army appeared to have upon the people. In every place bo buildings were crowded and people were eager and intereatcd to know all that was going on. He was glad to say that out of the 220 officers who wore on the New Zealand roll over 200 had been raised in the colony. They had been able to hold their own, and he hoped the day was not far away when they would be able to say to the General, " We have more officers than we need; we can Supply you with some for whatever country He had just had some advices from England that day, and was glad to say that an old friend of Christchurch, Colonel Pollard, had been appointed to the important post of Private Secretary to the Chiof-of-Staff, M«Bramwell Booth. He was also glad to b* able to at last definitely say that the Genesral was coming to New Zealand, and he believed that before the end of the' year they would have seen him face to face. In New Zealand the Army waa advancing, and among other things they hoped before long to open a Rescue Homo in Auckland. ?The Prison Gate work in Auckland was also to be extended and developed more on the lines of tha "Darkest England" scheme. He had heard a great deal of talk about the unemployed difficulty, and had considered that since the Army had been successful in this direction in England, in Australia, and in Canada, there was no reason why they should not have the same success in New Zealand. Therefore a Free Labor Bureau would be opened immediately, Captain Cutler having been appointed to the charge of it, and it would be put into operation as soon ac circulars could be got out and the public apprised of the scheme. No fees would bo charged either to employers or men, buf they would rely on tne generosity of the public for support. This would be the firsS step in social work, and it was quite posaibk' that further developments would follow before long. The meeting was brought to a close in ta? usual manner. To-morrow evening the cadets from the Lasses' Garrison wiH fag commissioned for the field.