Page 6 Advertisements Column 3

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 121, 18 November 1902, Page 6

A PROTEST FROM CLUTHA. WHEREAS certain wild statements and rumours havo of late been circulated through the press, and from public platforms, as to the disastrous consequences that havo attended the carrying of NOLICENSE in tho Clutha, and tho immorality of the community arising therefrom, wo, the undersigned, deem it our uuty, in tho interests of Justice, Truth, Honour, and Humanity, to refute the gross misrepresentations, distortion of facts, and vile calumnies that aro hurled at us, and bo" to give our emphatic testimony that NO-LICENSE has NOT been prejudicial to the financial, commercial, or moral wellbeing of the place or peoplo. Clutha stands where it has.*done for years, solid for Prohibition. Its electors recognise that, in spite of adverse criticism (some of it possibly legitimate), the district has gained immensely from every noint of view. * Tho finances of the County are in a .sound condition. Speaking of Balclutha, with which we are most familiar, the place has never shown such signs of prosperity as at tho present time. For instance, during the past twelve months improvements within the Borough amount to the respectable sum of Ten Thousand Pounds. This we acknowledge was an exceptional year, though for years past the town has been making steady progress. With a population of about eleven hundred, such prosperity will compare very favourably, we aro sure, with any town of equal population under Hcense. Tho Borough finances, too, are in a thoroughly sound and satisfactory state, the old shilling rate being still in operation. . That commercially we have benentecl, is indicated by tho fact that our leading business people aro enlarging their premises, and aro in what is recognised in commercial life as being in a good way. The most libellous charge mado against us is that in connection with the alleged sly grog-selling, which we are told is rampant. Wo do not hesitate to say that this has been grossly exaggerated. With strict police supervision, what. sly grog-sell-ing we have is kept very much in the background, and is in no sense the flagrant tiling our traducers assert. It is possible only with men prepared to stoop to backdoor ways of procuring drink, and the number of these is from year to year becoming smaller. In. townships where license prevails drunken men arc frequently to be seen ; here the sight of one is unquestionably very rare. To show that the illicit sale of sH-ong drink is not the extensive and profitable business so often alleged, tho hotelkcepers themselves admit that it does not pay. As a further evidence of the benefits of NO-LICENSE, our nearest neighbours, Bruce and Mataura (who ought to know something of the working of the prohibitory law in tho Clutha) at every paat election increased their voto for the abolition of tho drink traffic, and aro confident of carrying Prohibition at the forthcoming poll. A fact of this kind is worth noting. Crimo has been greatly reduced in the Glutha under NO-LICENSE. The increase of convictions during the last threo years (of which we understand so much is being mado by the "Trade") is largely duo to increased vigilance on the part of the Stock Department. During the past year wo havo had only two convictions for drunkenness. Three years ago it was found necessary, because of slanders circulated by the liquor party, to publish a protest on 'tho abovo lines. Again, on the eve of the NO-LICENSE poll the same tactics, from North to South, are being followed, necessitating on our part another protest. We have nothing to gain by misrepresentation, •and therefore invito any fair-minded and unprejudiced person to come and investigate for themselves. D. Stewart, Mayor. John C. Mitchell, Town Clerk. S. W. Currie, Presbyterian Minister. Arthur Mitchell, Methodist Minister. Robt. R. Stewart, Solicitor M. Muir, Merchant. C. J. Wood, Baker. A. Stenhouse, Surgeon. W. A. Fleming, Surgeon. Thomas HiHikerj Salesman. Benjamin O'Connor, Chemist. D. Watt, Clerk. G. W. Guest, Salesman. A. M'Kenzie, Draper. J. Smyth Fleming, J.P., Journalist. W. Guest, Merchant. Donald Ryrie, Merchant. D. Coghill, Accountant. James Clark, Blacksmith. Geo. Smith, Jun., Stock Agent. Win. Mollison, Gardener. G. H. Reid, Watchmaker. W. Widdowson, Civil Engineer. John Agnew,' Builder. Clement Grant, Coffee Palace. Simon Wright, City Butcher. John Ramage, Plumber. Thos. Ramage, Sanitary Plumber. William Harvie, Dealer. A. H. B. Poulter, Painter and Plumber. November, 1902. Clutha Leader. PRAYER FOR "NO - LICENSE." T|/|"EETINGS for Prayer for tho success of the No-License movement will bo held in the Oddfellows' Hall, 38, Lamb-ton-quay, on WEDNESDAY and successive days (Sunday excopted) until and in-clud-Bg TUESDAY, 25th November, from 1 to 2 p.m. I ANDREW DUNCAN THOMSON, 5 Returning Officer for the district of Wellington, hereby give notice that on . THURSDAY, the 20th day of November, 1902, at 9 o'clock, in the forenoon, at my offico in the Magistrate's Courthouse, Wellington, I shall publicly consider all the nomination papers of parsons to appoint Scrutineers in respect of the Licensing Poll for the District of Wellington which have been duly lodged. A. D. THOMSON, Returning Officer. ."ft/TR. FIELD will address the Electors RIKIORANGI, at Schoolhouse, TO-DAY (Tuesday), 18th November, 8 p.m. Waikanae Electors invited. KARORI— At Parochial Hall, WEDNES. DAY, 19th November, at 8 p.m. KERERU — Schoolhouse, THURSDAY, 20th November, 8 p.m. JOHNSONVLLLE— At Oddfellows' Hall, FRIDAY, 21st inst., at 8 p.m. WELLINGTON CITY ELECTION. MR. P. J. O'REGAN'S LADIES' COMMITTEE and Lady Supporters in general are -requested to meet at the Committee Rooms/ 61, Lambtonquay, next to New Zealand Clothing Fac tory.. on THURSDAY AFTERNOON at 3 o'clock. Mr- O'Regan will be in attendance. SEATOUN ROAD BOARD. NOTICE is hereby given that at a meeting of the Hoard to be held on MONDAY, the Ist day of DKOKMBHH, 1902, at Noon, the following resolution by way of special order will bo proposed, viz.— That this Board to secure the payment of interest and other charges ou a loan of .£SOO to bo raised under the " Loans to Local Bodies Act, 1901," for the purposes of the following : — 1. To pay off tho balances due on Ibo Seatoun and Kavaka Bay Wharves 2. To erect Shelter Sheds at Kcn-toun, Kavaka Bay, anil Minunar Wharves 3. To put down tx Groin on the Seatoun beach Do hereby make and levy a Special Rate of one-sixteenth of a penny in tho .£1 on the ratable value of all ratable lands within the boundaries of tho Seatoun Road Districts, sncli rate to be an annually recurring rate for 26 years, and bo payable in one sum on tho Ist day of April in each year at tho office of this Board. FRKDEIUC TOWNSEND, Chairman Seatonn Road Board. Wellington, 3rd November, 1902. TO - NIGHT. CARLTON HALL. WELLINGTON SPIRITUALISTS' SOCIETY. A CIRCLE will bo held in the above Hall under tho Controls of Mrs. Barton. Tests will be given which must and will convince every on© of the truth. I , Admi^ion-i non-mcuihau^ .HL