TAPANUI

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 29

TAPANUI

November 26.— The sly grog cases on Wednesday last caused quite a sensation, and were the means of drawing a large number into the township. The courthouse was crowded throughout the whole of the proceedings. The witnesses in the several cases can scarcely be complimented for the manner in which they gave their evidence, It i 8 to be hoped that after the present lesson the law will be obeyed in the future.

Mission Work — The Rev. A. Begg devoted Sunday morning to an address on "Mission Work." He said that notwithstanding the many hard things said about this work, those who were believers fully realised the necessity of carrying on this great and glorious work. The Gospel was not confined to one special place, but was for the whole world. The command was to go and preach the Gosp.'l to all nations, and it wai our duty to obey. Mission woik in connection with the Presbyterian Chin eh was carried on principally in the New Hebrides, where there were three mibsiomvries, with their wives, hard at work. Success had attended their efforts, heathenism having totally disappeared from many of the islands, and now instead of heathen feasts and other revelries the song of prai-e was to be heaid and all the inhabitauti of many villages might be seen going up to the houie of God. 'Ihe Home Mission smongdt the Chinese had not been quite so great a success ;i3 in the past, which may chiefly be attributed to the action of Europeans against the Chinese, which proved s very great barrier. It was for ua to realise that they were our brethren, and we would then know how to treat them. In Stewart Island mission work was carried on with fair success. The field was large, and the outlook was promising and full of hope. Labourers were wanted. So was money, for without the latter the work could not be carried on so successfully. The work of extending the Redeemer's kingdom belonged to us. He concluded by strongly exhorting all to apply themselves to it. Cricket.— a. match was played between the local club and the Waikoikoi Club, on the gi ound of the former, on Saturday last, when the home team got a bad doing, their opponeuts winning by 40 runs on the first inninga. The result may have the effect of causing a better attendance at practice, non-pr.. ctics being the principal cause of defeat. Temperance.— The Rev. J. Featherstone, of the Wesleyan Church, devoted part of his tiaio on Sunday evening to temperance. In speaking of sly grog-selling, he said he could see no difference between the buyer and the seller— the one did it for pleasure, the other for profit. He thought that theie could be nothing more cowardly than any man being the means of m^kin^ another break the law, and thus forcing his head into a noose. The cry th**t prohibition was a failure in the Clutha was, he thought, evident sign that it was a success. It may, perhaps, not have been so successful as desired. The fight with the drink traffic was somewhat similar to that between David and Goliath, and co sure as the giant fell so would the drink. The question was not one of failure or success, but that of right or wr ong If the drink traffic was wrong, neither voting nor license could make it right, and if right it required no license. When election time came round again he hoped that all votes would be recorded on principle. He probably would not be herd then, but he would watch the result with interest, and he trusted the people of Clutha would once more do their duty.

The Weather,— The weather has been something fearful for the past week. Shearing had commenced, but everything wa"3 brought suddenly to a standstill. At the time of writing there is very little symptom of improvement — [We would draw our co-respondent's attention to the notice at the haad of this column. All letters should reach the office not later than Tuesday night.— Ed.]