DRUBY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1398, 11 May 1868, Page 3

DRUBY.

(FBOM OUB OWN COiIRBSPONDBHT.) May 8. DnuiiY Band of Hope and Tempbbance Association. A meeting in connection with the above Association was held ut the Preebyterian Church, Urury, on Thursday, at seven o'clock, Mr. Win, Kerr, of Springfield, President, in the Chair. The proceedings commenced by singing a hymn, after which the Rev. Mr. engaged in prayer.

The Chaihman, in hia opening remarks, said that notwithstanding the inclemoncy of the weathor and the slender attendance, he congratulated the meeting that many friendn of the cause were present. He then referred to the paramount importance of the total abstenanco from the use of spirituous liquors, a constant use of which had a direct tendency towards drunkenness, which was ruinous both to the bodies and eoul.-j of men. This was most satisfactorily proved by the statistics which had from time to time been collected from various sources, —it was ruinoue to the individuals themselves as well as to the community generally, inasmuch as it absorbed bo much of the money whioh should flow through other channels. Many persons had prognosticated the failure of the temperance cauae, but no far from this being tho case, it was assuming a higher development and exercising a greater power through the world at the present day than ever it had done heretofore. Alcohol has been called one of" God's good creatures," but th s ia a fallacy, for if God had provided alcohol for man it would have flown through the earth like water. Xhe Chairman dwelt at; considerable length on lhis subject..

The hoy. Mr. EcOLB9, on rising, said that it was really quite unnecessary to say anything after what the worthy President had advanced, lie would, however, with the permission of the meeting, occupy a few moments. It would be well, he thought, for each individual to take a review of their conduct since the last, meeting, and ask what good they had been doing to promoto the cause, whioh was a good one. The evil effects produced by drunkenness and the vast amount o r money wa«ted should operate as a powerful incentive to increase our fSorte on behalf of the poor drunkard. In conclusion he would say that good people who loved cheir fellow creatures, and especially Christian Ministers, should be total abstainers for the sake of example.

Mr. Muboah, of Pukekohe, should now have given n lecture on temperance, but at the request of the meeting, it was deferred to a future- occasion, in consequence of the poor attendance. He said that there was a great amount of suffering in th.*: wprld brought on by drunkenness, and he had a great "widli to put down the diinking custom of society. There was no testimony ao strong as that of experience. He know the commencement of the first Band of Mope and since then how it had .pread. The bo 3 t way to succeed was to secure the yoiirig. There a s" no hope for the confirmed drunkard. Ho had taken the pledge twenty years xgo, and been able to ieep it Mr. RonitfsoN next addressed the meeting s ijiag he must congratulate tho inhabitants of Drury upon ' getting up this Society. Drunkenness was decidedly j a grout evil. A reformed drunkard was u most powerful agent to put down drunkenness. lie had himself been a total abstainer betwe;n thirty »na iortj years, and lie had no cause to rearet it. Ue thought drunkenness wan u decided dise^ao. "l hero were in the world hundreds and thousands of drunkards. The Total Abstinence ISoeieiv w.19 not dead yet, but silently wo.ki.iir .on. The mee'iiiK then proceeded to discuss the practicability of form ng a Drury auxiliary to the United Jlinguom Alliance, which having been thought desirable, the following- .persons were elected officebearers and committee for the ensuing ve»r to the IV .£ ux . ili<u 7 A :lU"nce:-Preßident.and'Treasurer, Mr. VV. lverr; Secretary acd Corresponding Agent, Dr. liayner. Committeo-Kev. Mr. Aruotc, Waiuku; Jev. .Mr. Ecdos, Kamarama; Messrs Solomon vossey James CoEPey, Mcliinis, Drnry; Morgan, i ufcakohe j wiMi power to add to their number; After a few pertinent observations from Dr Batnkb, a vote of thanke was accorded to the Chairman, ar.d the Rev. Mr. Sccles pronouncing the benediction, the meeting separated

At about seven o'clock on Thursday evening kst this district wns visited by a severe thunderstorm. ihe flushes of lightening Hud the ckps of thunder were simultaneous ; at the same time the rain came' down in torrents, and with it a heavy f t ,ll of hail,' ,some of the stones of which were the tize of large marbles. The only acreage I am Jablelto;ascertain that was done was some fencing of M r . W. Waliis' blown down, andt two valuable Mr. lluv killed.