MR HARDING AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1520, 17 June 1886, Page 2

MR HARDING AT GERALDINE.

On Monday evening last, Mr J. Hard-; iog, G.W.C.T. of New Zealand, addressed a public meeting in the Good Templars' HhII. The chair w»s occupied by Bro. W. S. Maslin, D.G.WiC.T., Bro.'T. Sherrntt acting as organist. The Chairman having introduced Bro. Harding, the latter arose and addressed those present. He stated that when he was last among the Good Templars of Geraldiao some two years ago he took great interest in the lodge, and also in the township, in both of which he made many fr'ends. He remembered that when a boy;if a stranger asked him his name he used to answer " Jack Come Again," and he was now visiting Geraldine again. (Applause). », He was travelling to visit many of the lodges in New Zealand. Having lately lost his wife he had taken this step in order to divert his mind as much as possible. They would therefore understand it was not for the purpose of profit he was travelling, as he was- doinf so entirely at his own expense. He had been a teetotaller for fifty years, and had in the courne of hiß life only spent'twopence in drink. He gave up drinking because he saw the evil of itl In the town in which he lived when a boy every bouse but two in one whole street was (licensed for the sale of intoxicating ' liquor?, and he had seen numbers of drunken soldiers, sailor*, and citfeene. Fifty years ago last Christmas r Day, while at a friend'a housa, he had been shown a tract on temperance which they had received from a friend in the Midland Counties of England ; it contained tea reasons why people should sbstain frohtT intoxicating drinks. He then expressed his determination to become a total abstainer, which he had remained up to the present time. His brother and him«elf -be was the ■ 16 years of age—established a Temperance Society shortly afterwards in that town; and when a short time ago he paid a visit to the O'd Country he met several persons who had signed the ledge at that Society's meetings, whe-u bis brother aiid himself were lads. They said they remembered those meetings with pleasure. Soon* "afterwards the whole of his fauily became members. When his wife died-be found the great attraction attached to home gone, and he decided to travel in order to keep his mind occupied, and at the same time to do some good to his feMowcraatures. He never regretted being a teetotaller. The drink curse wiia the greatest evil New Zealand had to contend with, and instead of happy holies O and people, he was sorry to say there was a deal of wretchedness. He had visited the Industrial School atDunedia recent'?,

Tha master, in addressing the children in bis presence* said that 90 per cent of them were there through stroDg drink. He would ask those present that evening to remember that they had to keep those children, and when they saw children frequently committed to similar institutions they were, in the majority of cases, the children of drunkards. It was quite enough for them to have to keep their own children,' without having, to keep others, especially : those whose parents were drunkards They were supported out of'Mtenues collected from the people ; money taken out of John Bull's breeches pockets. Then he would nsk them to look at the lunatic asylums. The doctors said that nine-tenths were there through drint; either directly or indirectly. These he "would remind them were supported ( from the rates. When be was in Lyttelton he had been shown over the gaol by Mr Phillips. He had asked that gentleman how many of those in his care were total abstainers, and the reply had been "Nojt.one;" Young men were first led * to like a of strong drink, and from that they weixt on to gambling, robbed thewmaster's till, or committed forgery. If they had kept from strong drink they might have become useful members of society. A large amount of money was spent annually in New Zealand in drink, and%nother large amount in maintaining the Courts of Justice. What was the re■ultfbf drink to men? They lost their time', "and" could not work so well or so lonfc as 'sbber men.; Many of their days idling about a public bonae, and they often bad to remain at home in order to get over the effects 6t the drink. Shearers got drunk, and had to takt to their bunk to recover themselves before they could get on with their work. Some years ago they had been a considerable loss to him through this, but lately, he was glad to say, ihey had be.com** better class of men, and did their work well. A little while ago he got a letter from a party of shearerß addressed from the Washdyke, who asked him if there would be a chance of some shearing if they Went to him, as they would be Dear a church, and would be comfortable in bJB shed. (Applause). He had written baok telling them to go there next shearing season. He would challenge anyone to produce anything good from iutoxicatingdrinks. It was evil, always evil, and that continually* He would like to know how many, in that hall were not Good Templar*; or temperance people. (Only four held up their hands). He would ask those "four why they were not total abstainers? Addressing them specially he gave them some very excellent advice, and concluded bis able and interesting address by inviting them to become Good Templars that evejing. The usual votes of thanks and the Binging of the closing ode terminated the meeting. The .weekly, meeting of the Welcome Retreat Lodge was afterwards, held, Bro. Harding presiding. After/the reading anclconfira&ing.cf the miputes, nod the : - transaction of some routine business, three candidates were/initiated into the Order. •TbevG.W.eiT. then addressed the members asto/tbeir duties, and the lodge] wits closed^in the usual manner,