W.C.T.U.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLVIII, Issue 12365, 3 December 1904, Page 2

W.C.T.U.

The annual meeting of the' local branch of the Women's Christian Temperanoa Union was .held m St. Paul's dlassroo-m yesterday (Friday) afternoon. The a^ting-president (Mrs. J. Smith) occupied the chair, and there was a good attewdanoo of members. * After opening the meeting with Scripture lessons and a prayer, the minutes ■of the previous.m&e>ti:ng were read and confirmed.' The election of oflQoera for the ensu-

ing year -resulted WiftfU'ows: President, Mrs. J. Smith; vioa-presidents, Mes-f-jelame-) Drake, Morton, and G. H. '"Smith; secretary; Miss Tupkef. (re-elect-ed); treasurer^-Mrs. Jgeav^ii^^e'ectied); White «vangelifibic superintendent, Mrs. 'Sutton.;. literary superintendenb, .-iMrs. Crutch; relief superintendent, Mrs. Mcleod; rescue superintendent, Mrs. Ryhiirn; educational department, Miss Vine. The_reports for the past year were read and adopted. The Evangelistic Committee reported that the Hospital had been visited re--guilairly, and that books and papers had bean distributed among the patients. Tracts a/so had been, distributed from liouse to house:

The Parliamentary Committee reported that signatures for a petition in favour of scientific temperance instruction in schooia hadi been canvassed for; tliat a. protest against the lioenaejs at; Rairatonga and Niue had bc?n foi"« rarded to "V\"eill!ingtan, and! that a series of retsolu--tipns bearing on. the Premier's memo, on the preservation of child Hfe had been forwarded to tho Premier.

The Relief■ Committee reported that on 3 •family nad been helped with food -and clothing, and that xhe'Maternity box was in good order. The Litoratura Committee .■ reported that literature had baen circulated iimongsb ■cabnien, bushmen, private posj>le, and tbo inmates of the Hospital, be*&ides which the box at the Aramoho IRaiiway Station was kept regu'iarly ±uppl:ed Aviuh literature. The socretaiy's report, \v3i:ch was ex•joeedmgly welil writt-en, gave a general ■summary of fche yeaa*'s work. Th© number of members Tiad increiased by twentyiiv.B. Three valued members had left the •town. The Pii&sddent was' sbLll absent from town, and her hea!;bh not being at .a.il good, she had asked not to be again .norn mated for the oifioe of President. JVlrs. J. Smith has, acted as President: was. expressed wiith those members who had. been debarred from -a'btendiri-g \h& meetings on aeoount of •.sickneis^. Prayer meeting cj had been •lield before the ord'xi.a.ry nion-fchly meetisngi?. Eleven trasin.es:> meatings had l>3-&n" ho".d, which were well attended, ■and great .interest Ixad bssii .vhown in the work of t3io Union. Papers •cireu'lai'iig -among lihe unions on "Work among iho Young'"' and "Evang&lieitic vVoi'k" liad bosn read, as well a-s n spea'al ■cation from the New ZeaCa^iid President j(Mrs? A. R. Atkinson) bearing on the Tremißr'a scheme for t^lia^r^srvation of -ch'l '"' T \ J,liss Powel1. ha-i visited WanTwo vory 6UCo3j.!.inil mcetdngs

had been he'd, ■iv.'hjen tv.'o addressee "wore by the visitor. The first. v,a&~a lecture on "Purity" and'tho second grv-er »b a social aftea-nocn Tieild hy tho TJuion, -on the "Origin and Aims of tho ■W.C.T.U." Mrs. J. Smifh- acted ns

■delegate to tie New Zealand Convention liald in Blenheim, and reported on "her return. The Convention .agreed to -meet in Wanganui in 1905. Tbo work -of the various committees was briefly reviewed, showing that good, earnest work had bean don© in all brandies. Tho «ip■pointmeint 'Of Mrs. W. J. i'ork a»s TresG xep-orter was chronicled. The rej^ort "oonoliules: "In coiMilusion we frtl thnt ■tis a Unkm ive have much far. wliich to lye thankful. Our momlmrs hare in■creasedj oommi'fctees have v/oriiecl well -together, and the interest in the work lhas been sustained. We cordially wcl■come thope wlio liave lately joined, our •ranks. Working to.»zeth''. jr iviUh tlie b'e?~ing of our God s-til-1 upon us, ay& ]«ok forward confidently to a yoar of inerai.sed li^efiihiiSSis in tlio service of tho Master." Th'O treasurer's i.-aLxnoo^lic-oi, ii'&o di«r■o^osed a very, satisfacloty state (if afraLrs. Tho meeting was closed with t-li-> Bvuc'cliction.