WAITAHUNA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 23

WAITAHUNA.

February 6.— The True Blue Lodge, No. 173, held its usual meeting on the Ist of the month, when the following officers were elected :— Bro, Sfcevenspn, C T. ; Bro. John Bliikie, V.'l. ; Sister F. T. M. Ryan, secretary ; Bro. Corry, M. ; Bro. M'Ara, FS. ; Bro. Barr, S. ; Bro. Auld, C. ; Bro. Brookman, I G. ; Bro. James Ryan, S. ; Bro. Hugh Crozier, A.S. ; and Bro. Patrick was appointed LD. for the remainder of the ensuing term. Bro. Auld drew the attention of the lodge to the necessity of taking action with reference to the approaching elections in March. After some desultory discussion it was resolved, on the motion of Mr Auld, to instruct the secretary to communicate with the temperance societies in the Bruce electorate with reference to the best means to be adopted, suggesting that eight candidates be nominated— two from Milton, two from Kaitangata, one from Stirling, one from Waihola, one from Milburn, and one from Waitahuna. Lecturk.— Mr Knott gave an entertainment last evening entitled " Ten Nights in a Bar-room," illustrated by limelight views. The different scenes suggested the whole tragic story almost as plainly aa Mr Knott's vivid description— from the newly-established magnificent hotel with every convenience and adornment, with the avowed sentiments of the ho3t and his determination to show what could be done in that line of business, carried on, as he determined it should be, without fear and without reproach. The story is already so familiar with your readers as to render a detailed description of it unnecessary. Suffice it to say that from the beginning to the dread finale, when the erstwhile kindly, honourable, hardworking man, going so hopefully into the business 10 years before, lies a bleeding, disfigured corpse on the floor of his own bar, struck down by the son of whom he was wont to boast " that he could serve drink by the gallon and yet never let a drop pass his lips" — that son, in a moment of drunken fury, while squabbling with the father over the possession of a bottle of brandy, was the means of the father's death. Keep off, old man, or you'll come off second best ! " was his warning, but the horrible threat was unheeded, the decanter was thrown, and the man who built the hotel to provide in the quickest way for his family— " there was such a splendid profit on drink " — lay dead on the floor, slain by his son, who expiated his crime on the gallows. Truly "the wages of sin is death," and the way of the transgressor is hard. It was -with a feeling of pleasurable relief that the next scene was met— a comfortable cottage home, wherein was seated Lizzie's father aud mother— the one deep in The Times, the other knitting. The drunkard ha« promised Lizzie not to go to the hotel till she got better. " There isn't any one only me to bring you home, you know, father," she pleaded pitifully, "and I'm so sick." The promise was given. Lizzie never got better, but the father kept his werd : he never went again, for there %< wasn't anybody to bring him home." At the close the lecturer made an impassioned appeal to those present to rise up and do their utmost against the drink that could cause such dire results. He did not say " Close the hotels "—no, but " Banish the drink from them— the stuff that was bringing the curse of poverty on the land, and filling the lunatic asylums and the gaols." A number of other views were shown, notably the sluicing claim of the Norwegian party at Waitahuna Gully, schoolhouses, school children, the business placeß of Mr David Watson (saddler), and the business premises of Auld and Sons (merchants), the latter making a very fine picture. In the absence of the Rev. Mr Skinner, Mr Auld presided, and at the close, in a few well-chosen words, he thanked the audience for their attendance and evident appreciation of the treat that had been afforded them, and the meeting dispersed.