TAPANUI.

Otago Witness, Issue 1901, 10 July 1890, Page 18

TAPANUI.

July 7.— A social tea meeting and entertainment In aid of the Gospel Temperance Society was held in the Athenaeum Hall, on Thursday last. This waa looked forward to by many as being something superior, compared with the usual affairs of the kind, and'they were not disappointed. A good tea was provided for all who wished to partake, the tables being tastefully done up and carefully looked after by the following ladies :— Misses Crawford and Whitefield, Johnstone and Jarrold, Kerr and M'Kenzle, and Gowdle and M'Kenzie. The eatables were supplied by our local baker, Mr Quaile, and, to judge by the manner in whioh they were put out of sight, they gave general satisfaction. Mr G. Me»ri, as usual, looked after the tea, doing his work to perfection. All being supplied, the tables were cleared, and a good evening's entertainment was begun, with the Bey. W. E. Birks in the ohair. The Secretary was called upon for his report. He explained that ths soiree was not got up merely for financial purposes, but principally to induce people to cast in their lot with the temperance party, aud mention was made of the faot that the meeting was got up at the instigation of Mr King. The Chairman having made a few opening remarks, the Rev. Mr Kelly, from Woodlands, spoke upon the best means of disposing of the liquor traffic. Taking legislation, education, and moral 'suasion as the principal lines, he gave some ttriking incidents of Prohibition, proving beyond doubt that instead of taking from the liberties of the people it would be the means of adding 'to them. Moderation he emphatically condemned, considering it was tht effect of want of will. During his speech Mr Kelly related some humorous anecdotes, whioh took good effect. The Bey. W, Scorgle spoke on " Indirect Influence'," giving some fine illustrations of how the rioh and the poor are linked together, and how that influence runs along many lines, until latterly man is honeycombed through drink and by disease. The speaker showed how drink takes away the senses and Induces idiocy. He finished by warning all of the fearful doom of the drunkard, and strongly urging all workers for the cause of temperence'to fight on manfully until suoh times as this great evil is swept from the face of the earth. Mr whitefield gave a reading showing the direct tendency of drink to produce disease, poverty, crime, and death, and how the liquor traffio was inconsistent with the law of God. Recitations were given by Misses Jarrold and Box, and Mr Hooker gave some personal experience of the benefits derived from temperance, and advised all to rally round the standard and take the pledge. The musical part of the programme was exceedingly enjoyable, both solos, concerted pieces, and Instrumental selections giving every satisfaction. As I have already devoted rather much space to this successful gathering, I cannot particularise; suffice it to say that the audience were extremely well {pleased with the whole entertainment, whioh was brought to a close by the passing of the usual votes of thanks and the pronouncing of the benediction.

Tuknip Chop.— Those who wish to see a crop of turnips worth looking at ought to visit Mr Alex. M'Kay's farm on the Conical Hills, where he has a crop of 65 acres, 40 aores of which would average roots weighing from 181b to 201b each. They nre being eaten off with sheep, and on four aores fenced off 300 sheep have been feeding for .the past three weeks, and they will by all appearances last for other three. The Jprlnoipal feature In this crop is that it is off lea ground, without the aid of manure.