THE NATIVE MINISTER AND TEMPERANCE.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3721, 4 September 1886, Page 2

THE NATIVE MINISTER AND TEMPERANCE.

* (By Telegraph.) Wanganit, Sept. 3 The Nativo Minister, supported by tlio • Major, presided at Matthew Burnett's temperance meeting to-night. Ihe theatre, was cron-ded to excess m every part. Mr Uallance 6aid it wns the first time he had occupied euch a. position, but probably not the last. Ho appreciated lo the fullest the great work done by Mr Burnett, which had his heartiest sympathy. Addressing Ibrough nn official interpreter a largo number natives present-, including a dozen or more leading chi.fs, who had a place on the platform, Mr Ballauce commended Mr Burnett's work to them. It bad beon said by Sir Julius Von Hanst, m London, that the native rtco ■nojld Boon be extinct, but he felt t.lnvt the prophecy need not become truo if only the rucogave up drink. He appealed to the chiefs and )Oung men to lend their aid to save their race from destruction. He had absolutely prohibited the sale of liquor m the whole of the King Country, but could not do that here, and must depend upon the natives banding together to help themselves m the matter. He felt co interested that he had given orders for theprinting of largo numbers of temperance cards, m Maori, to assist them. Mr Burnett then delivered one of his stirring addresses. His mission has been a great success. Omitting to-night, 800 pledges were taken, including 250 Maoris. Three thousand pledges were tnkeD m three we.k) < on tbJB coast.