"SCENES IN SLUMLAND."

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10561, 16 September 1910, Page 1

"SCENES IN SLUMLAND."

Although having resided in Oamarii for the brief space- of six months, Mrs W. . -Williams has established herself as a women of many talents, and whenever she is announced to address a meeting or preach a- sermon she ift assured of a. large audience. Last night's function in the Wesley Church was no exception to the rule, and as a result of ail announcement that she was to deliver a lecture, the Church was crowded Tjy a most enthusiastic and appreciative assemblage. The object of the lecture was a worthy one, . viz., the raising of funds for her sister-in-service (Miss Nellie Haves), who for some time past has been working among the Maori women and girls in the Taranaki district. The Young Ladies' Bible Class in connection with the Church have pledged themselves to raise certain amount each year for this fund, and as the result of this gathering their object for this year will have been attained.

After the 'meeting had been opened with devotional exercises, his Worship the Mayor, who presided, briefly outlined the objects of the. lecture. ■ As regards the speaker of the evening, he was sure, he .said, that Mrs Williams would treat lie.r subject with credit, as she would speak from iirst-liand knowledge, a knowledge gained as the result of years of devoted work in slumland in Australia and subsequently in our own province of Otago. He did not need to introduce Mrs Williams, as she was already well known as Sister Olive, and he only asked that all present would give her an attentive hoar-

mg. On rising to speak, Airs Williams said that she hoped she would be forgiven if she did not speak of her work in Australia, as she found that .she could supply enough material regarding her work in Dunedin to occupy -the whole evening. No doubt some of her audience wondered why she had selected the title "Scones in Slumlaiul" for her lecture, and would even question whether there was anything in this. Dominion that appertained to or deserved the word "slum." She confessed that on coming to New Zealand she wondered what there would be to do in her line of work, but she was not long in Dunedin before her hands were full of undertakings for the uplifting of those who had gone down in the battle of life and in an effort to save those who were on the road to a life of misery and shame. Mrs Williams then proceeded to give her hearers some of her experiences as a mission sister in the capital of our province, scenes which she painted in word pictures of simple but graphic terms. She proceeded by describing the surroundings of some of the children which she had been instrumental in rescuing, and one could hardly believe that such things could exist in a land which was governed by humanitarian laws and up-to-date machinery for the uplifting of humanity as was the case in New Zealand. How could it lie expected, Airs Williams asked, that children who had hceu" simply "dragged" up by drunken parents would turn out to be respectable men and women, capable of taking their part in the world" They were the victims of circumstance, and. naturally, if some efforts were not put forth oil their behalf they would follow in the footsteps of tlieir parents, and thus in turn lead immoral and impure lives. Mrs Williams said she was extremely glad that power was given for those, in authority to step ill and rescue the children of parents who were devoid of any sense of parental responsibilities, to educate tliem, and thus give them a start iu life. Although the work as a mission sister was hard, yet it was not without its rewards, and Airs. Williams told her hearers of many bright incidents which had occurred, and of boys and girls who had been started on a life of' useful work, and men and women who had been rescued from themselves and their surroundings ..and were now living pure and noble lives. The lecturcss also dwelt for some time on the humorous side of the mission work, and right throughout the lecture, which lasted close on two hours, she held the rapt attention of the audience, who seemed fully convinced at the end that the title chosen was a correct one, for indeed there existed, in a greater or lesser degree, a savor of "slumdom" in at least one of our New Zealand cities, and if in one was sure to exist in the others. On resuming her seat, Mrs Williams was rewarded with a hearty round of applause. During the evening songs were rendered by Mrs Williams ("Not I, But Christ"'),' Misses Glen ("Nearer, my God, to Thee") and Thorp ("He Wipes the Tear"), Miss Crawshaw presiding at the piano. At the close Mr J. C. YorW eallcd for a vote of thanks to Mrs 'Williams and the others who had taken part, the vote being most cm'dially given.