THE "BAND OF HOPE" AND "TOTAL ABSTINENCE" SOCIETIES.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1379, 1 March 1861, Page 4

THE "BAND OF HOPE" AND "TOTAL ABSTINENCE" SOCIETIES.

These two Societies celebrated, on the 6th February, a festival of their foundation. The children and adults connected -with both institutions assembled, to the number of 800, and walked in procession from the Odd Fellows' Hall to the Government Domain, where they amused themselves with various games throughout the day, and were amply supplied with proper refreihments. The Band of the Rifle Corps volunteered their services, and played appropriate and enlivening airs. Numerous flags and mottoed banners were distributed throughout the line of procession, and the tout ensemble was extremely imposing. This is the firit time that the City of Auckland haa witnessed a demonstration of this character, but we trust it will not be the last, but that it may become an annual, and blossom and bear much moral and social fruit. The procession, as it wended its way up Shortland Street, had a most imposing appearance, and gave forth evidence of a com' pletemd determined organization to promote and foster the principlei of virtue, morality, and temperance in the rising generation of this city ; for from them will spring our future men and women* These are efforts worthy of universal support, and no one, howver exalted hit station may be, whether in Religion or Comnieico, need be ashamed in lending them his countenance and support, for should the present labours be successful in laying the foundation, in Auckland, of a more unproved state of society, the foimer will be more generally appreciated, and tha latter more extensively supported. Both Army and Navy were represented on thin occasion, — the first by a band of about fifty children of the regiments, headed by a warm and sincere friend of temperance, Serjeant Harrison, and the latter by six sailors of H.M. steamship "Niger." These noble veterans have, as the public well know, up-

held the honour and dignity of their country on the | recent occasions at Tnr*nalri, "although they' have dispensed with their "grog." True valour and diiohargo of duty are not incompatible with a sober life, but, on tho contrary^ both may at pll times be relied upon, us ' well as securing, on many occasions, the posieuion of * " good conduct medal." Considerable praise is due to the Committee of Management, and especially to Mr. Davies, for their able services, and we trait their zeal may be rewarded by the cheering fact of a display of an increase of numbers and inteieat at the festival of the ensuing year. r.

North Shore School. — It is gratifying to see that the came of education is prospering across the Waiteniata. One acre of land lias beon given for the purpose by Mr. B. Menavy, and ft school-house 27 x 16 has been erected on the same, where already 'twenty scholars are receiving daily tuition from Mr. McKay, who, we are informed, is a most able and pains-taking master. The building itself was erected by lubscription, and ,the whole property is in the hands of the trustees — Meiais. T. Russell, Edw. King, and Edw. Hammond. — February 22.